Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Confessions of a Race Day Wipe Out




(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.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

New Calander of Events


 February 20, 2012 - Basset Hound Club of America (BHCA) Hunting Performance Test, Southern California Beagle Club, 20025 Lounsberry Rd., Perris, CA This event is supported by the GREATER SAN DIEGO BASSET HOUND CLUB http://www.gsdbhc.com/

February 24 – San Diego Dachshund Club Specialty Located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds – 2 dog shows, on the same day. For premium go to www.jbradshaw.com/shows.htm

February 25-26 – Sliver Bay Kennel Club of San Diego Located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds - SDDC trophy supported entry for Sat only.

February 25-26 - Northern California Dachshund Club –NCDC Earthdog Tests Feb 25 & 26, 2012 Nelson Grove, Woodland, CA.www.ncdachshundclub.org

Saturday, March 10, 2012 AKC EARTHDOG JUDGING SEMINAR  -Dachshund Club of Santa Ana Valley is hosting an Earthdog Judge Seminar at Canyon RV Park, 24001 Santa Ana Canyon Rd, Anaheim, CA. For More Information contact:  Dennis Duus, Deduus@SBCGlobal.Net  714-342-4694 Details

March 11 – Ugly Dog Contest - Del Mar Fairgrounds, Activity Center. OK, OK, so you don’t have an ugly dog… pick any from 10 categories: Ugliest Dog – Best St. Patty’s Day Costume – Adult’s Cutest Dog – Child’s Cutest Dog – Dog Who Looks Most like its Owner – Best Trick – Cutest Puppy – Most Unusual Markings – Most Beautiful – Most Handsome Male. www.uglydogcontest.com
March 17 – St. Patrick Day Parade & Festival– 10:30 at Balboa Park – Come and enjoy the fun while walking your Dachshund at a beautiful park.www.stpatsparade.org/
 
Saturday, March 17, 2012  - Welsh Terrier Club of Southern California-Whittier Narrows Recreation Area Section E, South El Monte, CA For additional information contact: James Dorris, Event Secretary 10124 Woodbridge Ln Riverside, CA 92509 (951) 934-3309 jjdorris@att.netxx msWord Premium pdf 

Saturday March 17, 2012 -AMERICAN WORKING TERRIER ASSOCIATION DEN TRIAL Sponsored by the Welsh Terrier Club of Southern California
Legg Lake Sporting Dog Area Whittier Narrows Recreation Area Section E, South El Monte, CA For additional information contact: James R Tebbetts, 11721 Whittier Blvd, Ste 194 Whittier, Ca 90601
 562-692-2530
or   latigerreb@yahoo.com  xx msword Premium pdf xx

Sunday, March 18, 2012 Western Fox Terrier Breeders Association Whittier Narrows Recreation Area South El Monte, CA For additional information contact: Mr. James Dorris, Event Secretary 10124 Woodbridge Ln Riverside, CA 92509-8819 (951) 934-3309   jjdorris@att.net xx msWord Premium pdf

March 20 – Dachshund club General Meeting Potluck at 6:30pm, followed by a brief business meeting. The program for this meeting will be Paul Henson with Quick Stain removal products. Come for the FREE hand outs.

March 25 – Bark in the Park Come join the SDDC with a day at Balboa Park for a lunch by the fountain and then walk across the stage with your doxies dress for Easter while Carol the organist plays a song for us.


MARCH 24,2012 Lure coursing At the ball field in Ocean Beach 4721 Santa Monica Avenue in Ocean Beach.http://luratics.com/
March 31-April 1 – DCSAV & Sierra Earthdog Tests -Canyon R.V. Park, Anaheim CA For more information and the premium lists for these events go to: www.dcsav.org/events/

April 14 - 15 – Western Hound Ass. of So CA AKA - The Hound Classic #2 All Hound Group Show.
www.jbradshaw.com/shows.


MAY 19 2012 Lure coursing at Montevalle Park in Chula Vista, 840 Duncan Ranch Road. Click here for directions. The cost per run will be slightly higher for this event because Montevalle is a more expensive field and the lights cost us $15/hour on top of the field rental, but it should be a LOT of fun! http://luratics.com/

Sources - show info www.jbradshaw.com/shows.htm , 
                earthdog http://duffyscavern.org/Earthe_dogges.htm
                Hunt hound: http://www.gsdbhc.com/
                Lura coursing:http://luratics.com/