Eling Recreation Ground
Sat 17th May 2025
1pm – 5pm
Bigger and better with lots for the family to do throughout the afternoon.
Watch the races, ride the donkeys and cheer on the winners.
Stalls from local vendors, games and activities from our Scouts, food to keep you fuelled.
Activities to try like climbing wall, tomahawk throwing, archery, bouncy castles.
Save the date for 2025’s Donkey Derby, returning to Totton once more.

A day at the races
Grab a programme and choose your favourites for our races throughout the afternoon. Watch and cheer on our runners and riders on the track at the heart of the event. Fancy a game on the side? Adults can visit our tote tent to responsibly enjoy a day at the races with our lovely volunteers.
A big thanks to all our local businesses and community groups who are sponsoring our donkeys and choosing their amazing names!
Fun for all the family
The Donkey Derby is a fun-filled afternoon for everyone with plenty to do.
Fancy a mini-adventure? We’ve got climbing walls for those with a head for heights or tomahawk throwing for those who fancy themselves an ace axe thrower. If you’re the right age you could ride the stars of our show both round the courses and at a more tame pace.
Browse a range of stalls and games from both our Scouts and others from our community to suit all tastes and budgets. Enjoy the craft tent to try your hand at different activities or why not let the kids run off some steam in the bounce zone.
Plus there’s our free donkey hunt and colouring competition to get involved with. Find the full details in the event programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is behind the Donkey Derby?
This year, two Scout Groups are teaming up to deliver a bigger and better 27th annual Totton and Eling Donkey Derby. The 5th Testwood Scout Group and 4th Eling Sea Scouts are ready and raring, full of ideas to make this a truly excellent Donkey Derby and community event for all.
How do I get in?
To get in to the Donkey Derby, you need a programme booklet. It is your ticket to the event.
You can buy programmes in the run up to the event from a number of locations in Totton from our Scouts. Ahead of the day, you can get them for a reduced price. Keep an eye on our social media for locations as we edge closer to the day.
Good news, is that under 12s accompany adults for free to the event.
Where is it and how can I get there?
The Totton Donkey Derby is held on Eling Recreation Ground, at the Garage Youth Club end, on the Saturday afternoon. Please walk or cycle to the event is possible to reduce our impact on the environment.
If you’re coming from further afield to the event, there are bus stops around the ground on the Bluestar 6, 8 and 9 routes and the railway station at Totton and bus stops on other routes only a short walk away. If driving to the Derby, there is parking across the road at the end of Rumbridge Street.
How can I pay for the event?
If you’re looking to get a programme ahead of the event, you can pay either in cash or through a QR code which allows you to pay via your smartphone.
On the day itself, our entry gate allows both cash and card payments. The games and stalls run by our Scouts are either cash only or, for the bigger activities, are payment through tokens. You can get tokens from one of our two red token tents which accept cash or card. Many of the independent vendors accept card.