Organizer Diggar Anderson poses with this year’s winner of the Looney Days Running of the Wieners race Smokie and his owners Katie and Thain Abrahamson of Thief River Falls Saturday, Aug. 2.
Smokie Abrahamson, of Thief River Falls, by way of Grandma’s cabin on Loon Lake, wins the  Vergas Looney Days Running with the Wieners race by a length at the finish line in front of runner-up Roxie from Fargo.

By Robert Williams

Editor

Smokie Abrahamson, a three-year-old Dachsund, outran 82 other wieners en route to his first racing championship in Vergas in his third attempt. 

Despite making the trip from up north, Smokie is a Vergas native. His owners Thain and Katie Abrahamson found Smokie at Skal three years ago during Looney Days and they have raced each year since.

“They had one dog left and my daughter was like, ‘Can we get him?’ and he was just so tiny,” said Thain.

Katie Abrahamson smiles and celebrates with Smokie after capturing the championship race of the Vergas Looney Days Running with the Wieners race Saturday morning.

“Grandma forked out some money,” said Katie.

Smokie is the youngest and his family says he is the baby of three dogs at home.

“He gets away with everything,” said Katie. 

Smokie has learned while racing each of the first two years at Looney Days and put it all together Saturday.

“The other years he’d get scared from all the other dogs barking and stuff and try to jump the fence,” Thain said. “He’s more mature now. This last race here, he was getting nipped from behind a couple times and he still kept going. If that would have happened last year he would have spun around and tried to double back.”

There is another secret weapon that helped Smokie win this year.

“I have a weird whistle for mama’s boy,” Katie said.

Smokie plans to return next year to defend his title after soaking in his victory at Grandma’s cabin (Katie’s mom) on Loon Lake for the rest of the festival. Whether at the cabin or at home, Smokie is up early and training for wiener races.

“He was out chasing birds and rabbits every morning,” said Katie.

Roxie from Fargo was the runner-up coming off a third place finish last year.

Rex from Dilworth placed third in his rookie race in Vergas

The Running of the Wieners is sponsored by The Vergas Community Club, in conjunction with the National Wiener Dog Racing Association.