Races return to Vergas August 10

Photo by Chad Koenen
The Wiener Dog National compeition will be held in Vergas as part of the annual Looney Days celebration. The last time Vergas hosted the national event was in 2021.

The Vergas Community Club, in conjunction with the NWDRA, (National Wiener Dog Racing Association,) has announced that Dachshund racing will return to Vergas on Saturday, Aug. 10 th at 9 a.m. during the village’s annual Looney Days celebration.

This fun family activity is returning to Looney Days again this year, and the community is honored to be named this year’s host of the “2024 Wiener Dog Nationals.” Vergas last hosted this national event in 2021. Last year’s Nationals were held in Los Alamitos, Calif.

The races will be held on the turf at the Vergas baseball field beginning at 9 a.m., with registration and practice beginning an hour prior. It is recommended that participants pre-register their wiener by mailing the form available on the Facebook page “2024 Wiener Dog Nationals at Looney Days,” www.vergascommunityclub.com, or at www.cityofvergas.com. Participants can also enter on race day, but be sure to arrive early. The races will conclude by 11 to enable everyone to participate in all of the other fun events at Looney Daze.

Many new track improvements have been made this year. Organzers have greatly increased the seating area. New this year is a ground seating area around the perimeter of the track. This area will allow kids of all ages to sit on the ground (blankets suggested) without chairs blocking your view. Behind the ground seating we are providing folding chair seating, which means people can leave their lawn chairs at home! In addition to the regular bleacher seating, we have added two new sets of huge bleachers, each of them being 45’ long and 9 rows high. Standing room only areas are still available, but event organizers can now provide comfortable seating for over 1,000 spectators.

Organizers expect up to 75 racers from as far away as Florida, Texas, and Nevada to participate. No racing experience is necessary, as the racers often decide that socializing is more important than speed. A dog does not need to be a full-blooded dachshund, as the judges have some flexibility in allowing other dogs as long as they are size-wise similar to a wiener dog. The race will be approximately 80’ long, and each racer will need 2 human “pit crew” members; 1 each at the start and finish lines. There will be a series of preliminary races before the 2024 Champion is crowned.

Each entrant will compete in at least two races. Complete rules are provided on race day. Spectator admission is free. Racer entry fee is $15, or $25 per race family.

Event tee shirts are available ($20 limited quantities) at Vergas Hardware, Summers Construction Design; REMAX Lakes Region – Vergas, and Billy’s Corner Bar and Grill.

For more information visit our Facebook page “2024 Wiener Dog Nationals at Looney Days,” or contact Digger Anderson at (763) 370-9796 or digsisme@gmail.com.