FRANKFURT, GERMANY - In an effort to establish dachshund racing in Germany, the Frankfurt City Fathers are excited to announce the First Annual International Dachshund Race, Sausage and Beer Festival to be held here in June.
Race Organizer, Englebert Winkler, explained, "The Dachshund is a dog breed that originated in Germany. We strongly feel our little sausage dogs have been overlooked in the dog racing world. They may not be tall, slender, and sleek like the greyhounds, but they have a lot of courage, having been bred to go after ferocious badgers in burrows in the ground."
Dachshund races were first held in Australia in the 1970's. Since then the sport has grown, particularly in the U.S. with such events as "The Running of the Wienies" in Germantown, Tennessee, "The Annual Doxie Derby" at U.C. Davis, and the 16th Annual Weiner Dog Nationals in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The largest event is the (18th) Annual Sir Wienieschnitzel Wiener Nationals in southern California, which draws thousands of visitors every year.
Continued Herr Winkler, "We are proud of our German heritage and culture here in Frankfurt, home of the world famous frankfurter. Our German dachshunds are not called 'wiener dogs' for nothing! Germany is a land of 39 different kinds of sausages. We plan to combine the excitement of dachshund racing with a wonderful sausage and beer festival, so tourists will have a great experience, similar to Octoberfest, only in June."
Unfortunately, Bacon, the undisputed champion of wiener dog racing who was featured in the movie, 'Bacon Blasts the Competition', passed away in 2008. Bacon's fastest time was 45 yards in 3.2 seconds. Current champions, like an American piebald named Moscow, are slated to attend the Frankfurt race, which will be on a 22 yard course. Wiener dog racing internet sites are ablaze with excitement as owners are getting their stubby-legged racers in shape for this summer's big event.
