It was beginning to look like Virgil was going to miss this race - until a minor miracle happened. Suddenly, a gunman -- who had just minutes before lain dead on Main Street -- was at our side. "Do you need help?" he asked.

The rig was so complicated the gunslinger couldn't manage it either, but several of his fellow gunfighters came and lent a hand. Within minutes, Virgil was ready for showtime. And just then, our daughter arrived with her entry form in hand. Apparently there had been some small glitch at the registration desk.

Ed and I, Virgil and our daughter Columbine walked the three blocks to the starting line, and the race began. Columbine and Virgil took off, crossing the bridge leading uptrail with nary a hesitation (which is pretty unusual since a large percentage of donkeys despise bridges). As Ed and I watched, the racers disappeared from view with Columbine and Virgil right there at the head of the pack.

IF THIS HAD BEEN A Hollywood movie, they probably would have won. But this was real life, Central Colorado style, and there just happened to be a movie crew filming the race that year. Virgil, being the ham that he was, couldn't resist. He stopped to pose and preen, and Columbine couldn't push, pull, or prod him past the filmmakers. Finally they moved on -- until Virgil changed his mind and tried to drag Columbine back toward fame and glory. They finished in the penultimate place that day, next to last. A few years later, Virgil retired from racing, and was put out to pasture on a ranch near Aspen, which is almost as good as Hollywood - isn't it? And Columbine subsequently gave up burro racing and started guiding raft trips.

As for those who are asking: "Just what does this have to do with Central Attractions?"

The answer is: Donkeys are part of our region's history; they made it possible to carry food and supplies into our mountains before there were roads or trains; they carried the burdens for prospectors; they labored in our mines; and today they're remembered in many of our museums. There's also a Prunes the Burro monument on Front Street in Fairplay, along with a burro racers' monument which commemorates Central Colorado's only indigenous sport.

But donkeys aren't as plentiful as they used to be. When Ed and I were young, there were still stray donkeys in several Colorado mining towns. But society's ideas about humane treatment of animals have changed. Today, half-starved, homeless donkeys no longer forage in our towns (which makes one wonder when our standards for humane treatment of humans may likewise escalate).

Although certainly not rare, donkeys aren't as much a part of our landscape as they once were. But they're still out there, standing amidst the horses and cattle. And if you want to see donkeys in action, summer is the time. This year, street fairs, gunfighters, music, food, vendors, parades, kids' games, and burros will be featured at Fairplay Burro Days, July 30 and 31, and Leadville Boom Days, August 6 and 7, and at Buena Vista's Gold Rush Days, August 13 and 14, with all of the burro races on Sunday. And for those of you who appreciate more modern local attractions, Fairplay's event also features llama races. ¤