I dunno, I’m enjoying the mental image of a pig pimp…big ol’ red hat with a giant purple feather, duster style zebra striped coat, shiny red boots, and more gold chains than you can shake a stick at.
One year there was duck racing too! That was particularly silly. I love the Topsfield Fair. I decided to put “enter a pie in the Topsfield Fair” on my bucket list.
I’ve seen pig races at our state fair – they ran for Oreo cookies. The only way I could restrain myself from joining in was remembering that there was not a glass of cold milk at the finish line. Somehow, warm straight-from-the-spigot milk from the nearby cow barn on a hot summer day just didn’t do it. Later in the day, in the swine barn, we saw the older cousin of these guys, (aptly) named “Balls.” Not so cute.
The county fair that I used to go to in New Jersey when I was younger had pig race, but it was more of a biathlon. For the last leg of the race they would leap into a little swimming pool and paddle to the finish. Adorabuhl.
Exploiting?!?! have you ever seen an animal race? they love it! you couldn’t make them do it if they didn’t. Well, I dont know about greyhounds, but I know that the amateurs (like these or pet dogs) are hilarious to watch because how intense they get over their race.
my retired racer greyhound LOVES to run. 4 years off the track, and she still runs around in circles, especially with a pack, tongue flapping in the breeze, cheesy grin, trying to be first in line… oh yes, greyhounds love to run
it’s only exploitation if there’s gross neglect involved. doubtful these darling piggehs are neglected
I don’t know much about pigs but I’m guessing they wouldn’t run if they didn’t want to. Correct me if I’m wrong (anyone who has actually witnessed a pig race) but they don’t use sticks or other devices to spur on the pigs, do they? Don’t the piglets just run ’cause they like to run? And they know there’s a tasty treat waiting at the other end?
I had the honor of being the starting gate official at an All-Alaskan Racing Pigs event at the Santa Cruz County Fair last year, and NO, they do not prod or poke or otherwise mistreat this lil piglets! Tasty treats is the motivation, So much fun, harmless, and kids love it! Oh, okay, so do I!!
It’s not as much fun when they are your piggies that have escaped from their pen and you have to round them back up before they destroy the neighborhood.
Well, it’s fun for the piggies anyway…They always did seem to be enjoying themselves.
Ah, yes, I recall those times too. Except our “neighborhood” was the farm next door’s field of crop, and those four little piglets had about 80 plus acres to run and hide in. We tracked them on foot, on horseback, from the ATV, and in the truck. Man, could those little porkers travel!!! One of the most stressful mornings I ever spent on horseback.
Oh yeah, they have pig races at most state fairs around the US, and at quite a few of the county fairs. One might think, for example, that Howard County, MD, one of the richest counties in the US, would avoid such nonsense. One would be wrong. And at the Montgomery County fair – another excessively wealthy county here in MD – the pig races are standing room only!
Have seen this many times at the various county fairs in NJ and the NJ State Fair. There is likely more than one “racing pig” company out there, but I’ve always seen the Robinson’s Racing Pigs that someone mentioned above. And every race I’ve seen has been for half an Oreo. The piggies LOVE their run! It’s a very short, oval track.
Ditto, fellow Jersey-ite! When I went to summer camp in elementary school we’d take a field trip to the State Fair up in Sussex County and the only thing I ever wanted to see was racing pigs, fighting for their Oreo reward. The wee ones usually charged out of the gate full-speed, but every so often there would be a slacker who just didn’t feel like racing. He still got his Oreo, of course.
I can only hope that once the piggies age out of racing they get a nice place to enjoy their retirement. I would totally adopt a racing pig…kind of like the greyhounds
I had the extreme honor of being the starting gate official at an All-Alaskan Racing Pigs event at the Santa Cruz County Fair last year! The piggies love it, the kids love it, there is no mistreatment, tasty treats for winners and losers, fun had by all!
Thd occasional armadillo race back when I lived in Austin, Texas… armadillos are dumb as dirt. Even for treats, it’s pert’near impossible to get them to run in the right direction. And you don’t want to think too hard about what an armadillo considers a treat.
Around here it is turtle races (actually turtle walk abouts) and what is affectionately titled wiener dog races. They run for little smokies which might be the end product of pig racers. Such a happy thought for today. Pigs run on! And enjoy it!
Pig races are the best part of the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition, in Vancouver at the end of every summer). Well, that and the SuperDogs.
I think it’s an American guy who does the pig races though, probably same outfit as visits many state fairs south of the border. Oh, and at the PNE they race for mini-donuts!
Definitely used to love these when I was a kid at the county fair in upstate NY. There were plenty of returning champtions, including Magnum P.I.G., MI6 agent James Pork, and many other terrible puns on 70s and 80s tv shows. Best part was that the entire time they talked about the pigs getting faster and faster as the show went on, until they released the fastest pigs in existence…Chinese Pot Bellied pigs, who proceeded to sleep in their little race cages, meander out and snorfle in the sawdust, or come over and inspect the audience expecting pats.
That is all…..
(People will bet on anything, these days……)
I’ve seen these piggies race before! This is at Valla’s Pimpkin Patch here in Nebraska. The pigs are so adoraboo! They call them “Guinea Hogs.”
Oh man, why didn’t spell check see that? I meant PUMPKIN patch.
I dunno, I’m enjoying the mental image of a pig pimp…big ol’ red hat with a giant purple feather, duster style zebra striped coat, shiny red boots, and more gold chains than you can shake a stick at.
OH BOY this is an excellent mental image and/ or meme !!!
Huggy Pig?
And NOW I notice that I misspelled the name of the pumpkin patch. It’s at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. What is with me today?
*slams head on keyboard repeatedly*
I do not want to know what one might find in a Pimpkin Patch…
(bows head and awaits moderation)
Wow!!! I didn’t get moderated!!
YAYY!!!!
*shakes pompoms for BB/VA*
Every year at the Topsfield Fair in MA – Robinson’s Racing Pigs… good times…
One year there was duck racing too! That was particularly silly. I love the Topsfield Fair. I decided to put “enter a pie in the Topsfield Fair” on my bucket list.
YAY duck racing !!!!
doesn’t the new season of Pie Racing start on the Food Network later this year?
I love pig racing ! Especially when one runs the wrong way. (snerk)
I’ve seen pig races at our state fair – they ran for Oreo cookies. The only way I could restrain myself from joining in was remembering that there was not a glass of cold milk at the finish line. Somehow, warm straight-from-the-spigot milk from the nearby cow barn on a hot summer day just didn’t do it. Later in the day, in the swine barn, we saw the older cousin of these guys, (aptly) named “Balls.” Not so cute.
The county fair that I used to go to in New Jersey when I was younger had pig race, but it was more of a biathlon. For the last leg of the race they would leap into a little swimming pool and paddle to the finish. Adorabuhl.
And the loser became bacon.
Hey! It’s a joke! Put those pitchforks down!
*snerk*
Pretty sure the winner becomes bacon too. No joke. Bon appetit!
*picks pitchfork back up*
*clutches pearls, then*
*gathers tar & feathers*
Exploiting animals for entertainment just isn’t cute to me.
Exploiting?!?! have you ever seen an animal race? they love it! you couldn’t make them do it if they didn’t. Well, I dont know about greyhounds, but I know that the amateurs (like these or pet dogs) are hilarious to watch because how intense they get over their race.
my retired racer greyhound LOVES to run. 4 years off the track, and she still runs around in circles, especially with a pack, tongue flapping in the breeze, cheesy grin, trying to be first in line… oh yes, greyhounds love to run
it’s only exploitation if there’s gross neglect involved. doubtful these darling piggehs are neglected
I don’t know much about pigs but I’m guessing they wouldn’t run if they didn’t want to. Correct me if I’m wrong (anyone who has actually witnessed a pig race) but they don’t use sticks or other devices to spur on the pigs, do they? Don’t the piglets just run ’cause they like to run? And they know there’s a tasty treat waiting at the other end?
I guess I don’t see that as exploitation.
I had the honor of being the starting gate official at an All-Alaskan Racing Pigs event at the Santa Cruz County Fair last year, and NO, they do not prod or poke or otherwise mistreat this lil piglets! Tasty treats is the motivation, So much fun, harmless, and kids love it! Oh, okay, so do I!!
agreed.
I saw a pig race at the California State Fair. They ran for vanilla wafers there. The piggies seemed to enjoy it.
What a bunch of hams!
:snerk:
Cute now, guess what happens to the winner?
He gets a blanket
Haw! Also, cucumbers and SHAME.
Wow. I’ve been in moderation since yesterday.
C S H
U H A
C A W
U M
M E
B
E
R
S
Moderate me for that, Sharpy!
Pig Races are a true example of Americana. No matter where you go, coast to coast, there are pig races and people love ‘em.
I love pig races SO moishe. Those piggies can haul ass! Too adorable. I think they know it too… Iespecially enjoy the checkereed racing flags, heh.
It’s not as much fun when they are your piggies that have escaped from their pen and you have to round them back up before they destroy the neighborhood.
Well, it’s fun for the piggies anyway…They always did seem to be enjoying themselves.
Ah, yes, I recall those times too. Except our “neighborhood” was the farm next door’s field of crop, and those four little piglets had about 80 plus acres to run and hide in. We tracked them on foot, on horseback, from the ATV, and in the truck. Man, could those little porkers travel!!! One of the most stressful mornings I ever spent on horseback.
Oh yeah, they have pig races at most state fairs around the US, and at quite a few of the county fairs. One might think, for example, that Howard County, MD, one of the richest counties in the US, would avoid such nonsense. One would be wrong. And at the Montgomery County fair – another excessively wealthy county here in MD – the pig races are standing room only!
Have seen this many times at the various county fairs in NJ and the NJ State Fair. There is likely more than one “racing pig” company out there, but I’ve always seen the Robinson’s Racing Pigs that someone mentioned above. And every race I’ve seen has been for half an Oreo. The piggies LOVE their run! It’s a very short, oval track.
Ditto, fellow Jersey-ite! When I went to summer camp in elementary school we’d take a field trip to the State Fair up in Sussex County and the only thing I ever wanted to see was racing pigs, fighting for their Oreo reward. The wee ones usually charged out of the gate full-speed, but every so often there would be a slacker who just didn’t feel like racing. He still got his Oreo, of course.
I can only hope that once the piggies age out of racing they get a nice place to enjoy their retirement. I would totally adopt a racing pig…kind of like the greyhounds
Don’t they sometimes race with little “riders” on their backs – like stuffed animals or dolls?
I had the extreme honor of being the starting gate official at an All-Alaskan Racing Pigs event at the Santa Cruz County Fair last year! The piggies love it, the kids love it, there is no mistreatment, tasty treats for winners and losers, fun had by all!
I saw some pig racing at a county fair last summer. I remember the winning pig’s name was Arnold Schwarzenbacon.
Thd occasional armadillo race back when I lived in Austin, Texas… armadillos are dumb as dirt. Even for treats, it’s pert’near impossible to get them to run in the right direction. And you don’t want to think too hard about what an armadillo considers a treat.
This is a highly anticipated and very well attended event every year at the NC State Fair – everybody loves the pig races – including the piggies!
Around here it is turtle races (actually turtle walk abouts) and what is affectionately titled wiener dog races. They run for little smokies which might be the end product of pig racers. Such a happy thought for today. Pigs run on! And enjoy it!
Pasándolo Chancho!
_____
^..^ \9
(oo)_____/
WW WW
Pig races are the best part of the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition, in Vancouver at the end of every summer). Well, that and the SuperDogs.
I think it’s an American guy who does the pig races though, probably same outfit as visits many state fairs south of the border. Oh, and at the PNE they race for mini-donuts!
Definitely used to love these when I was a kid at the county fair in upstate NY. There were plenty of returning champtions, including Magnum P.I.G., MI6 agent James Pork, and many other terrible puns on 70s and 80s tv shows. Best part was that the entire time they talked about the pigs getting faster and faster as the show went on, until they released the fastest pigs in existence…Chinese Pot Bellied pigs, who proceeded to sleep in their little race cages, meander out and snorfle in the sawdust, or come over and inspect the audience expecting pats.