Human Horse Races 2026
The seventh annual Human Horse Races will take place on Thanksgiving Day at Easton Park, located at 3141 Toulouse St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Like typical horse racing, jockeys and "horse" pairs race throughout the day in different categories. The main difference, of course, is that the "horses" in these races are the human kind.
Taking a Bet
Founder Ingrid Victoria Ruth Anderson is a multi-disciplinary artist, producer, makeup artist, and fashion designer whose love for character creation and world building comes through in every project. They birthed the idea for the Human Horse Races from a conversation with a friend. On the way to the racetracks, a friend shared their reservations about horse racing and how it went against their morals. This inspired Anderson to create the Human Horse Races as a way to create tradition and community around an event that would help horses, not hurt them.
The Human Horse Races have their own lore, written by Anderson, that makes the event all the more interesting and dynamic. Stables compete against each other every year, entering different "horse" characters in the races throughout the day with their chosen jockeys.
Trotting to the Beat of They're Own Drum
There are six stables in total and each has their own personality. There's the Wild Horses stable, known for their untamed nature, and then the 24 Carrot Club, who are the self-proclaimed noblest stable. The Star Shufflers are the jet-setters of the bunch, B.U.B.B.L.E.—who consider themselves more of a barn than a stable—takes being contrarian to new levels, and the Patchouli Dusters just tend to go with the flow. The intricate story building behind the event invites attendees to a whole new world when they enter the Human Horse Races.
This, too, is part of the vision for the event. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their derby best and create their own characters and lore. Inclusivity and creativity are what have allowed the event to grow and expand in the past seven years, creating a culture of its own in Mid-City.
Impact of the Human Horse Races
Proceeds from the Human Horse Races will go to the Greeno Equine Sanctuary. Through donations and fundraisers like these, Greeno Sanctuary is able to care for horses that cannot be adopted through traditional means and give them a forever home. Greeno Sanctuary became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2022 and has continued to grow ever since. Currently, they have over 20 horses in their care across 40 plus acres of land.
