WINNEMUCCA - The 2013 edition of the mule show and races went smoothly, organizers said.
Event participants, spectators, and bettors enjoyed the event, but the numbers in all three areas were less than had been hoped for. Attendance by both the participants and attendees for many of the mule shows and races all over the country are lower than in previous years, said Winnemucca Convention Center and Events Complex Director Kim Petersen.
The event's best year in Winnemucca was 2006, the year that races between cloned mules drew extra interest. The event was canceled here in 2011 due to an equine virus that caused concern in several western states.
Fairgrounds manager Sheree Tibbals said, "We're still trying to rebuild momentum."
Tibbals said there was a pretty good crowd in the grandstands on Saturday this year, but not as many folks on Sunday.
"We have a pretty good group of people in town who like to bet and they come out every year," Tibbals said.
One of the challenges of putting on the Mule Show and Races each year is gathering the number of people who are needed to man the event.
"A lot of volunteers are needed," Petersen said, adding, "We rely on help from a lot of people and on supporting donations from area businesses who feel they benefit from the event."
One of the changes that could be considered for the event is to concentrate only on the mule races. There are completely different sets of people involved in the two facets of the event, according to Petersen.
Petersen said the comparative success of this year's event and its future will be evaluated by Agriculture District 3 and the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority (WCVA).
Every event held at the complex undergoes an evaluation every year. Demand for event dates for the Winnemucca Events Complex has grown to the point that each event receives comparative evaluation.
Petersen said the scheduled weekend for the mule show and races is in demand.
"We have a request for that weekend from another event that has the potential to be a huge draw to Winnemucca," according to Petersen.
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