Preregistration of dogs recommended

The Vergas Community Club, in conjunction with the National Wiener Dog Racing Association, has announced that Dachshund racing will return to Vergas on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 9 a.m., during the village’s annual Looney Days celebration.

This fun family activity has become a staple of Looney Days, as wieners come from around the country to race in this incredible event. The races will be held on the turf at the Vergas baseball field beginning at 9 a.m., with registration and practice beginning at 8 a.m. It is recommended that participants pre-register their wiener by mailing the form available at www.vergascommunityclub.com.

People can also enter on race day, but be sure to arrive early. The races will conclude by 11 a.m., to enable everyone to participate in all of the other fun events at Looney Daze.

Organizers continue to make new improvements to our racetrack, and they are increasing their bleacher seating again this year. The ground seating area for the kids was so popular last year, that organizers are bringing it back again for 2025. This area allows kids of all ages to sit on the ground (blankets suggested), without chairs or standing adults blocking their view. Organizers also offer folding chair seating, which means you can leave lawn chairs at home. In addition to the regular bleacher seating, Vergas will have added three new sets of huge bleachers, each of them being 45-feet long and nine rows high. Vergas can now provide comfortable seating for over 1,200 spectators.

Race 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. The dog does not need to be a full-blooded dachshund, as the judges have some flexibility in allowing other dogs to enter, as long as they are size-wise similar to a wiener dog. The race will be approximately 90-feet long, and each racer will need two human “pit crew” members; one each at the start and finish lines. There will be a series of preliminary races before the 2025 Champion is crowned. Each entrant will compete in at least 2 races. Complete rules are provided on race day.

Spectator admission is free. Racer entry fee is $20, or $30 per race family.

The concession area will be set up trackside by 8 a.m., where they have available breakfast sandwiches from the Lions Club, steaming fresh hot coffee from Otter Coffee in Vergas, and eye-opening Bloody Mary’s from Proof Artisan Distillers in Fargo.

Event tee shirts are available ($20 limited quantities) at Ditterich’s Mercantile, Natalie’s Serendipity and Billy’s Corner Bar and Grill.

For more information contact Digger Anderson at 763-370-9796 or digsisme@gmail.com., www.vergascommunityclub.com, or Facebook “2025 Running of the Wieners at Looney Days.”