Look who is racing again…

 The Naughty One

The Naughty One received an email yesterday letting her know that she was selected to participate in the Wiener Nationals again this year. Every July, Los Alamitos, a racetrack in Orange County, hosts a night of horse racing and wiener dog races. It’s all for charity to support the local animal shelter. It’s become a summer tradition for us, (really just another excuse to party!). A group of friends and family come out to cheer her on, all with matching fan club shirts (of course). My mom acts as the bookie and we let all of the small children bet on horses. We bring in food and enjoy adult beverages throughout the night. Everyone, including the pup, has a great time!

Wieners are required to submit applications, and 98 pups are invited to race.  Photos are also reviewed. Two years ago, a lady entered her cocker spaniel (clearly not a wiener), and the dog went on to win its race. Things got a bit heated and security had to come and remove the owner and her cocker spaniel (true story).  Photos became a requirement the following year.

This year we weren’t sure if Winnie would make it, since a limited number of pups from the previous year are invited back. We knew her application had to be over the top. This is where the cookies come in. Along with her application, the selection committee received a box full of wiener dog themed cookie favors all individually wrapped up. I know what some of you are thinking… bribery. We like to refer to it as “sweet talking” our way into the competition. We’re not ashamed. Let’s see, entering your cocker spaniel in a wiener dog race… clearly unethical, making cookies for the man in charge… purely good thinking!

The odds are clearly not in her favor. She’s 25 pounds and running up against  tiny wieners who know how to sprint. She does get out of the starting gate and run in the right direction though, and that alone makes us proud. There is a little cash prize and a Wienerschnitzel dog house on the line. She is doing this for fame, not for money, and besides she couldn’t fit in the doghouse even if she was victorious.

The other bit of excitement is that I get to be a stage mom again… another “Toddlers & Tiaras” moment. She was one of the pups invited to film the commercial promoting the event.  She got to do this last year too. The boy got to miss a day of school, which he loved. This was the first commercial shoot I had ever sat through. It took hours and hours to film. Watching the director try to get fifteen wieners to do what he wanted last year was almost more fun than watching the pups.

We’re looking forward to another memory-filled night! Instead of training for the race, Winnie has decided to rest up for the event and load up on carbs.