Bareback Buffalo Riders Race for Glory in Thailand

Buffaloes in Thailand make a dash for glory in an annual bare-back race which sees few riders make it to the finish line.

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7 months ago

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SHOTLIST: CHONBURI, THAILAND, OCT 29, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV -Various of buffalo races SOUNDBITE 1 Nattawut Tuansub (man), spectator (Thai, 5 sec): "They (buffaloes) are charming, strong, gentle and smart too." -Buffalo rider Off washing his buffalo called Ngun which means "Money" -Off oiling the horns of buffalo -Off feeding buffalo -CU of two buffaloes wearing pink decorations -Decorated buffalo with dressed up woman on back -Children rubbing mud over themselves SOUNDBITE 2 Norrapat Onkhlai (man), buffalo race co-organiser (Thai, 14 sec): "We believe we must have this festival every year to stop the buffaloes getting sick when they're working and also so the farmers won't have any problems with their land." -Buffalo refusing to go to starting gate -Spectators watching anxiously -Zoom out from spectators to race starting -Race ending with few riders still on buffaloes; Off comes to find his buffalo SOUNDBITE 3 Off (boy, 15 years old), buffalo rider after losing his race (Thai, 4 sec): "I am sad but next year I will try again." -Various of men securing buffalo in truck before driving home at end of day ///