2026 Studebaker Wheelbarrow Races

The Studebaker Wheelbarrow Races are an annual tradition that showcases fierce competitors of all ages. Participants train hard for the big day where they traverse through various obstacles such as mud pits, railroad ties, and balance beams as the stadium thunders with applause. Winners are showcased in local media and have bragging rights, unlike any others.

ONLINE TICKET SALES END FRIDAY, JUNE 19

Events:

• Men's Championship Race • Prizes: 1st Place: $1,000, 2nd $300, 3rd $200 and 4th $100
• Woman’s Championship Race • Prizes: $1,000 , 2nd $300, 3rd $200, and 4th $100
• High School Team Race Challenge • NO CHARGE Prizes: $200 for first and $50 for second
• Teen Races • NO CHARGE • Prizes: $100 1st and $50 for second
• Youth Races • NO CHARGE • Prize: 1st Place: $100

Contest Rules:

1. All contestants must check in AT THE STADIUM between 2:00 and 4:00 pm on the day of the race. NO EXCEPTIONS.
2. All contestants must wear long pants, shirts, and shoes (no cleats or open-toed footwear).
3. All contestants must attend the MANDATORY walk-through AT 4:30 p.m. ON THE COURSE. (Failure to attend the mandatory meeting is automatic disqualification and forfeiture of entry fees.)
4. All contestants must check their equipment once issued. Gunny sacks especially!
5. The signal to start the race will be given by the official starter.
6. Any false starts will create a restart. A second false start by the same contestant will result in disqualification.
7. Upon starting signal, contestants will race from the starting line with all equipment appropriate to his or her group to the ore pile and so forth.
8. Any contestant displaying unsportsmanlike conduct and/or impeding others will be subject to disqualification.
9. Upon reaching the ore pile, contestants will load their own sack with ore.
10. When leaving the ore pile, and for the remainder of the race, you must be with the wheelbarrow that you started the race with.
11. Upon loading ore, contestants will proceed to each successive obstacle, proceeding on their required course to the finish line.
12. Any contestant failing to complete any obstacle properly will be subject to disqualification.
13. Absolutely no throwing of equipment. All equipment must be carried, wheeled or placed over the obstacles. (Violators will be subject to disqualification.)
14. Contestants MUST cross the finish line with the ore sacked from the ore pile and equipment with which he/she started and without any assistance from any other person.
15. Upon crossing the finish line, each contestant will stay with their equipment until weighed by a race official.
16. Contestants will be disqualified for not having the proper weight of ore.
17. All decisions made by the official race committee are final: the spokesperson for the committee will be the Race Chairperson.
18. Once the first contestant in each race crosses the finish line, remaining contestants will need to complete the course within the next 10 minutes or will be disqualified.

Terms and Conditions of the Race (Please read this information carefully, all rules will be strictly enforced. Note: the race committee reserves the right to disqualify those contestants that are not in compliance with the rules.

EQUIPMENT: All official equipment will be provided by the Kiwanis Club of Placerville, John M. Studebaker Wheelbarrow Race Committee. Official Equipment will include the following: 1) Wheelbarrow 2) Gold Pan 3) Ore Sack

REGISTRATION: Check-in for contestants will be at 2:00-4:00 p.m. on the day of the race. The check-in booth will be located in the grandstand area of the Placerville Fairgrounds. Those not checked in by 4:00 p.m. will not be allowed to run the race. All contestants are required to attend a MANDATORY orientation at 4:30 p.m. on the race track, in front of the official John M. Studebaker Wheelbarrow. Those not present and accounted for at that time will be disqualified from the race. NO REFUNDS OF ENTRY FEES WILL BE ALLOWED. NO SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED. The purpose of the meeting is to review the rules and regulations of the race. Each race is limited to 20 contestants. Entrants will be accepted based on the date and time of receipt of the registration form by the Race Clerk.

Also check out other Sports events in Placerville, Contests in Placerville, Workshops in Placerville.