Day 039: 02/19/12 – Shriner’s All American Cutter Races

Written By: Stephen Williams

Photos By: Jake Johnston and Stephen Williams

When you think of the largest tailgating events in Wyoming, what comes to mind? Frontier Days in Cheyenne? University of Wyoming Cowboys football hosting their rival Colorado State Rams? How about the Shriner’s All American Cutter Races in Jackson Hole? While all of these events will draw a crowd of RVs and pick-up trucks into a parking lot to unload grills, chairs and coolers, the Cutter Races are the only one that you can watch the event right from your tailgating spot. The gates open two hours before the races start, trucks back right up to the side of the racetrack, and the party begins.

By the time the races get underway, the crowd is a little lubed up, well fed, and ready to start placing their bets. The teams of two horses pulling a one man wheeled-chariot come flying out the gate, and soar down the quarter mile track. The hoofs from the thoroughbred quarter horses barely divot the snow as they charge towards the finish and the crowd erupts as the announcer calls out the winner of the race. In between races, there is plenty of time to grab another hot dog, crack another beer and be entertained by the miniature horses racing the track pulling mini covered wagons. This one of a kind event is sponsored by the Jackson Hole Shriner’s and proceeds from the entrance fee and a percentage of the bets placed benefit the Shriner’s Hospital of Salt Lake. It is nice to know that there is more to this tailgating party than just entertainment and the Shriners have given the day a motto: “The cutter’s run so that a child may walk”.