Dashing Dachshunds Duel during Fall Festival

Dunkel prepares to race. Note the spilled french fries to Dunkel's left which proved his undoing. (Photo by Brooks Chandler)

By Brooks Chandler

TNews Contributor

Girdwood Brewing staged its third ever dog race this past Saturday.  Contestants were limited to lovable weiner dogs.  100 or so damp spectators surrounded the short bunting lined paved track on a portion of the brewery parking lot.  Racers included Rambo, Pistachio, Fiona, June Bug, Loki, Noodles Ferdinand and Dunkel  and many other skinny pooches. 

Race Marshall Tim Ball ran the event “Olympic Style” with preliminary heats, 2 semi final tilts and a final each featuring 3-4 racers.  Noodles edged out Ferdinand and Ronnie in the final. 

Race Marshall Tim Ball releases the hounds in a preliminary heat. (Photo by Brooks Chandler)

Tim told TN he originally hails from Ohio.  His idea for racing daschshunds  in Girdwood was inspired by a similar event held each Octoberfest in Cincinnati.  According to Tim and the Cincinnati Visitors Association Cincinnati’s Octoberfest is the largest in the world after Munich.    After participating in a daschund race in Ohio ,  Tim pitched the idea to Girdwood Brewing and races were incorporated into GBC’s 2024 Octoberfest.  Judging from the level of participation and enthusiasm, wiener races will remain an annual fall festival event.

Tim and his wife are parents to Dunkel and signed Dunkel up to compete.  Unfortunately Dunkel was distracted by a pile of spilled french fries scattered close to the starting line and did not advance past the prelims.  Maybe next year! 

Final Contestants Noodles, Ronnie and Ferdinand prepare to take off. (Photo by Brooks Chandler)