Dachshunds dash for canine glory between harness races in this free family event on Saturday, June 14 in the Backyard at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
This year, 80 doggy contestants will compete for a $500 grand prize. There are eight heats; the top canine from each advances to the final. Each canine heat winner will receive a special chew toy; each dachshund owner gets a $100 voucher.
There is currently a wait list for the owners of dachshunds who would like to participate in the derby. See the application link on DoggieRoadTrippin’s Instagram bio, @doggieroadtrippin. There is also a link there for weiner dog shirts.
Approximate Wiener Dog Derby Post Times:
◾6:00pm
◾6:15pm
◾6:32pm
◾6:52pm
◾7:30pm
◾8:00pm
◾8:25pm
◾8:50pm
◾9:15pm
◾9:40pm
◾Final: 10 pm
For information on the 7th Annual Wiener Dog Derby and all upcoming events visit PlayMeadowlands.com.
About Weiner Dog Derby
Wiener dog races originated in Australia in the 1970s and are primarily found in North America, according to a 2009 Economist article. Racetracks across the country produce the events as fundraisers or for publicity.
The races tend to draw large crowds and really started growing in popularity after the release of the 2007 film, Wiener Takes All, a Dogumentary, chronicling two years of the competitive Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals circuit.
The dachshund, also known as the wiener dog, sausage dog, badger dog, doxen and doxie, was bred to scent, chase, and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals. Short-legged and long-bodied, the hound-type dog breed is prone to spinal problems due in part to an extremely long spinal column and short rib cage.
Dachshunds are one of the most popular dogs in the United States, ranking 12th in the 2018 AKC registration statistics, according to the American Kennel Club.
The dogs are among the top 10 most popular breeds in 76 of 190 major US cities surveyed by the AKC.