The Horse races of Sonora Page updated on 03.12.2012
The north of Sonora is a mountainous
region, the Sierra. The cattle that graze there will give the best
meat in Mexico. There are many ranches and many
"vaqueros" with their famous "sombreros" (cowboy
hats).
Don’t confound sombrero (cowboy hat) and "Charro"
(mariachi hat).
The horses are the pride of their owners or the ones who take care
of them without riding them.
They are usually bought in the USA. They run about 250 meters (820
ft). They are overexcited by shady injections as well as by physical
mistreatment once they are in the starting gate (they receive kicks
on the hoofs, they have their mane twisted sometimes until bleeding
and they also have their ears bitten).
Left picture : preparation of the horse
for the race
This horse is called Cappricio. It is 7 year old. It won the race
on this day of August 2008 in Huepac, a small village of the northern
Sierra of Sonoma, close to Aconchi and Aviacora.
It spent the whole night with a plaster of inflammatory paste and
bandages. Its legs were washed one hour before the race. Its owner
refused injections.
Nobody rode the horse. It stayed in its box and was taken for walks
(held by its bridle) beside a quieter horse.
It is only ridden for the famous 250 m (820 ft) race.
The north of 
