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Human Horse Race

The horses enter the race track to line up at the gate

Designed as a parody of the Grand National horse race held in Antree, the Pantomime Horse Grand National draws in thousands of people to the city center of Birmingham, England, all eager to watch the competitors and bet on the winner.

Contestants pay a fee of 50 British pounds to enter the competition and slip into their plush horse costumes for a chance to win the grand prize - a bottle of champagne. It’s not much, but it really isn’t about the winnings at all. All the money raised from entrance fees, sponsorships and betting on the sidelines go to the Lord Mayor’s charity funds.

At the starting gate

This year, the 7th edition of the Thomas Vale Pantomime Horse Grand National had contestants competing in a grueling 12-jump course.

And they're off!!!

The "jumps" consist of bales of hay stacked into different configurations. You might not think that this would be hard, but wearing the horse suits makes all the difference.

It's not easy, being a horse.

In the men’s race James Bamber and his “horse” Hoof Hearted claimed the #1 spot, while in the girl’s challenge Nicki Mills and her Spank The Donkey came first. The funny event raised around 4,000 pounds for charity.

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