Sports and Recreation

Racing Cranky Camels in Australia

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Competitors jostle for position during the 2011 Camel Cup camel racing event at Alice Springs, Australia on July 9, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

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Competitors jostle for position during the 2011 Camel Cup camel racing event at Alice Springs, Australia on July 9, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

On the list of animals that humans can ride, race or bet on, you might not expect to see one that bites, snarls and even spits up the contents of its stomach. But in Alice Springs, Australia, the ornery dromedary takes center stage once a year for the Lasseters Camel Cup.

Billed as an event that features "temperamental, terribly unpredictable" animals, the Lasseters Camel Cup is a series of races that attracts around 5,000 people from around the world every year. Camels can be pretty irascible and a challenge to ride, so only professional riders and their camels can enter the races, reported the Los Angeles Times. Even with professional riders, the camels might move backward instead of forward at the beginning of the race, or they might just stand still, says Lonely Planet.

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In addition to a straightforward camel race, the Lasseter Camel Cup also features a rickshaw race, a couple's "Honeymoon Handicap" and a hobble race. Other entertainment includes belly dancing, music and kids' activities. All proceeds from the two-day event go to local charities.

To learn more about the Camel Cup and make a visit if you're going to be in Australia in July, visit the Camel Cup website.

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