Makepung Bullock Races

Bull racing is an age-old tradition across generations in Bali, and the Makepung Bullock Races (aka Negara Bull Races) is one of the most popular bull races on the island.

The name of this bullock race is derived from the local Balinese word, ‘kepung’, which translates to ‘chasing’. The word is comparable to ‘steeplechase’, and means that it is a race that involves bulls ‘chasing’ each other in the race.

The competitive races occur outside Negara in the regency of Jembrana, on makeshift circuits laid out on dry dirt tracks in the harvested rice fields. Here, the skilled jockeys race each other on 2-wheeled carts made from modified wooden ploughs, or cikar, and pulled by pair of water buffaloes. Makepung is derived from the word kepung, meaning “chase”, and is a festive event for the locals with usually two rivalling villages competing and sometimes more than a hundred pair of buffaloes racing each other, in usually three different divisions.

Teams are divided into two clubs: the eastern division (east of the Ijo Gading River) in red and the western division (west of the river) in green. In each race heat, three pairs of buffaloes usually race each other. It is almost impossible to overtake, and during pre-race heats, judges determine who can start first, second and third.

On the finals day, enthusiastic visitors will gather to cheer on the racing bullocks. In addition to the racing, visitors are also treated to a unique show known as the ‘buffalo fashion show’. During this show, these beautiful animals are dressed in animal clothing embellished with ornaments before being allowed to compete in the best-dressed section.

Although there isn’t much prize money to make, winning a race increases the value of the buffaloes to sometimes hundreds of millions of rupiah (tens of thousands of dollars).

Most races are either trials or local competitions leading up to the most prestigious races of the year, such as the annual Regent’s Cup and the season-closing Governor’s Cup.

Makepung Bullock Races run each year and kick off early, usually by 7:30am, so if you want to attend, make your way to the circuit in good time. Each year’s event dates vary; however, the heats occur fortnightly on Sunday mornings from June to November.