Runnin' Cards At The Buffalo Rose

By Itchy

You know it’s really summertime when the Buffalo Rose Poker Run rolls around.

It’s always a good time at the Buff, but the annual poker run is always just a little more fun for some reason. This year marked the 10th Annual Charity Poker Run, and this year, like last year, they went a little different direction with the charity. The funds collected by the event went to the Colorado Horse Protection League.

The Arvada-based Horse Protection League is dedicated to the rescue, care and welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. The group provides whatever the animals might need—food, shelter, medical care—whatever. Find out more at www.cohpl.org.

As great as horses are, for this ride, we’re talking about Iron Horses…the big twin pavement peelers that make their own thunder.

Close to 70 bikes roared out of the Buff on Sunday June 27 and headed into the foothills. Making a quick little loop with a stop at Rocky Flats lounge, then taking the back way up to the gambling Mecca of Dostal Alley Casino, from there, a mandatory stop at Kermitt’s before rumbling back down the hill into Golden.

When the group got back to the Buff, the party on the patio was already warming up. It didn’t take long before the place was packed, and bikes lined both sides of 19th, plus filled surrounding parking lots. Finding a place to park your butt was pretty tough, too. But it was a damn good time. Everyone feasted on the free BBQ supplied by the Buffalo Rose, complete with all the trimmings and extras that make for a fine summertime meal.

Sitting on the patio taking in the day, everyone kept a wary eye on the gnarly-looking clouds threatening from above. All the worry was for naught, though, as the day stayed nice and dry, allowing for a great time on the patio after a day of putting through the foothills.

All in all, it was a great way to spend a Sunday.

“I’m really happy with how everything went,” said Murray Martinez, co-owner of the Buff. “We had more riders than last year for the run, and then the party just rocked. Considering how many events there were this weekend this is great. It was a really good time. We raised some money for the Horse Protection League when we were riding motorcycles, not horses. How much fun is that? It’s been a really good day though…no problems, lots of people…that’s why we so this.”