2011 Bend Oktoberfest Wiener Races
"Heads or tails" (the old flip of a coin saying) or "You can't be two places at once". I chose "heads" because that way at least all the Wiener Race Doxies were in one place. You will only see the start of the Races here, not the Finish Line. By the time I finished taking a picture at the Starting Box, the winner had already won at the other end of the course, and it was impossible to get both ends at the same time.
You will never know how much fun these races are---unless you were there! Oodles of wiggling and tail-wagging Doxies all over---some being held and others entering the races. Over 1,000 people attended to watch these fun little critters. Sponsored by Bend Pet Express with the proceeds from the races going to the Humane Society of Central Oregon. I talked with a woman who doesn't even own a Dachshund, but she says she comes every year and wouldn't miss a race!!!!
Maybe you'll see someone you know in these pictures. For sure, you'll see some adorable little Doxies.
2 of these little Doxie "Mascots" watch over the crowd.
Pictured is only a small number of Race lovers....
This is where all the fun begins.
Race #1.
A close-up picture of one of the contestants. Can you see the colored feathers by her ears?
Ha, just try to put 8 squirming Doxies into that box! That's Chuck Arnold (Director of Bend Downtowners) in his Bavarian hat doing the moderating. What a kick when he "bleeped" part of one of the Dachshund's name cuz he felt it was not appropriate for "young ears". Much laughter as he had to mention that name several times---he's great at "bleeping"!
Go! Go! Go! (Ooops, some of those little kids ran right around the back to their parent and never made it to the other end of the track!)
Hey you guys---the race is over. (I see that little boy on the left. Was he cold? No, he couldn't have been cuz it was 94 degrees, windy and hot!)
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