Feathered fortunes: inside Asia’s richest pigeon race

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Aidan JonesJanuary 18, 2026 at 06:30 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Asia's richest pigeon race, the Pattaya International Pigeon Race, is held in Pattaya, Thailand. Over 5,000 pigeons are transported 540km to Mukdahan, near the Laos border, for the race. The birds rely on their homing instincts to navigate back to Pattaya. The race boasts a US$2 million prize pot to be shared among the owners of the winning birds. Dhanin Chearavanont, a wealthy Thai tycoon and pigeon enthusiast, is the organizer of the event. The race represents a significant part of the global multimillion-dollar pigeon racing pastime.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Bangkok 40% Laos 60% Mukdahan 60% Charoen Pokphand Group 70% Pattaya ×280% Pattaya International Pigeon Race 85% Dhanin Chearavanont ×290% Thailand 90%

Keywords

pigeon race 100% pattaya international pigeon race 90% racing pigeons 80% thailand 70% prize money 60% dhanin chearavanont 50% homing ability 50% mukdahan 40%