(A sequel to Confessions or a race day looser)
I started out with a long drive to participate in a
Wiener dog racing event to help a local, animal rescue organization
raise money.
Now I love these events, because I love to
race! My favorite site is the starting box! I just want to get in so the
race can start.
This event though, started out with a
meet and greet. My race wasn’t scheduled to run until late in the day.
I tried my best to stay calm and greet all the admirers and children.
They wanted to meet me because I was the one featured on most of the
posters. You see I love posing for the camera. Not that there are not
other dachshunds that are good at photos. But they are not usually good
at taking directions for photos and racing.
Well I
digress, down to the races. I needed to win my heat to be able to have a
shot at the big race. This was a particularly hard race, not only was
it run in soft dirt, it was over 50 yards long. A lot longer that my
little dachshund eyes can see. We got on the field and we had to walk
to the starting gate. I barked and whined to the crowd to get them
excited. Then the moment came I had been waiting for. I was loaded into
slot 1. I barked and whined waiting with excitement and anticipation for
the race shoot door to open. When it finally opened I darted into the
lead and held that position in the race. I spotted the big hotdog at the
end of the race and headed that way. As I was nearing the finish line I
slowed to look for my mom. “Oh! There she was!” I kicked on the extra
speed and easily took first. I was so fast in fact, that I made the
second fastest time on the course, thus earning me the second place odds
to win the next race. Since that was the last race before the final, I
only had a short time to get a quick drink and make a run to the
bathroom.
Well! I got back just in time to fall in place
for the walk to the box. The crowd was cheering and going wild. the
stands were filled to capacity and I barked loudly to let them know I
would try my hardest.
On this race I was set to run out
of the tenth place slot. There was a lot of confusion with the gate
keeper and someone else standing there. It was so tight my dad could
barely squeeze me into the box. I did not get a good look at where my
mom went. But I figured I would just run fast and hope to see her at the
end like last time. The box opened after what seemed like an eternity.
I got a good start and rocketed into the lead. But I was not sure where
to go. All I could see from my angle was the big hot dog, so I headed
for that. Unfortunately, I was in slot 10, not slot one this time and
it kind of took me at a slight angle. This would not have been too much
of an issue; except for one thing. I was so…. zoned in on running fast I
did not see any thing around me. My friend Presley, who is a fast dog
herself, barked at me to stay out of her way. I was ahead of her but her
bark caught me by surprise and I whipped my head around to look at her,
but at that angle and speed this action caused me to trip and roll! I
can’t tell you how many times I rolled. Some say twice, others say three
times. I was lucky, because Presley had done her best to jump over me
when I rolled. It looked like a NASCAR pile up.
ALL THAT WAS MISSING WAS THE FLAMES!
I finally landed on my feet, but by that time I had fallen to the
back of the pack. I ran as hard as I could but only managed to come in
8th, but the damage had been done. Not only had I blown my chance at
winning it all. But I took the second place dog with me.
IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR RACING!
Oh well, there is always next time.
See you then, hopefully with better news.
Full Video of Both the tenth race and final race at Los Alamitos Race Track.
Earthdog Tests - Nov 17-18/12 - Great Western Terrier Association of So Cal- , Canyon RV Park 24001 Santa Ana Canyon Rd Anaheim, CA. Web Site:www.gwta.net
