Winners show-off the goat they caught during a yak racing event, July 24, 2014. [Photo by Wang Lie/chinadaily.com.cn]

Yaks have the reputation of being the "boat of the plateau" as horses are physically unable to run at an altitude above 4,500 meters.

Yak racing has become a popular sporting event at many traditional Tajik festivals.

Yak-mounted players attempt to drag a goat carcass toward a goal within a limited time or distance. Winners are usually awarded trophies and prizes of a horse, yak, cow, sheep, clock or cloth.