Photo Gallery: The exciting but dangerous world of Indian Relay racing

Note: As a bonus to our readers who have followed us into Year 3, the East Idaho Sports staff will post a special story on Sundays – Could be a column, opinion, feature, or just something fun and goofy. Hope you enjoy, and thanks again for coming along on this journey.

BLACKFOOT — One of the Eastern Idaho State Fair’s signature attractions is undoubtedly the Indian Relay races, where racing teams battle in three-lap bareback races featuring horse exchanges between each lap.

While teams come from across the region to compete in the “National Indian Relay Championship,” it was teams from Fort Hall that dominated Thursday’s final heat races last week.

Team White Knife, Team Pretty Elk, the Teton Team and Coby Racing, all four from Fort Hall, won their heats.

It wasn’t all positives during Thursday’s races, though, with several collisions leading to disqualifications and apparently minor injuries — with all horses, riders and handlers walking away. There was also one very well-trained horse that ran a lap without a rider, finishing the lap ahead of the other three teams before gliding into its team’s exchange area.

To see videos of the eventful day of races, follow East Idaho Sports’ new Instagram — here. A selection of those videos are also posted in the East Idaho News – Sports Facebook group — here.

Here are some of our favorite photos from the day of racing: