When you think of Elko, Nevada it probably brings to mind the cowboys and the lifestyle of the Buckaroos the area is famous for. Although the life of the buckaroo seems to be a glorious one there are other equestrians that are sure to get your heart pounding as they race down the home stretch. The Elko County Fair held each year at the Fair Grounds located just minutes from downtown Elko has been a long standing tradition for the community. The fair dates back to 1920 and is said to have been held in Lamoille and then moved to Elko and held every year since. The only cancellation of the fair that is documented was due to World War II back in 1942 and 1943. Although many things have changed since the 20's one thing remains a constant - the hoof pounding excitement of the ponies racing down the stretch. The races are held for seven days and consist of nine to ten races each day featuring both thoroughbred and quarter horses. This year the Elko County Fair will be celebrating its 88th Anniversary with over $325,000.00 in purse money. Trainers and horses travel from as far away as Washington and Arizona to compete for their piece of the purse. One of the most anticipated races for locals is the "Nevada Blackjack Challenge." The Black Jack Challenge is run on the last day of racing and consists of nine local stables all competing for bragging rights. You may see various items throughout our city promoting the different stables, the nine competing stables listed in no particular order are: UnStable Stables, UnAble Stables, Misfits Stables & White Pine Stables, Under The Table Stables, UnWanted Stables, We Wanna Win Stables, Let It Ride Stables, UnDecided Stables and UnBroken Stables.
