It’ll be a day for the horses and hounds come 18 September when Cowra Harness Racing Club hosts its annual Carnival of Cups and Family Fun Day at Cowra Showground. Image: James Watson.
Yes, it’s true – despite their very short legs, dachshunds can be deceptively fast. Just take it from the cows who get regularly ambushed in sneak attacks by the three resident dogs out here.
Reaching speeds up to 15-20 km/h, there’s no telling how – with a bit of training, less liver treats, a keto diet and some Speedo Fastskins – that pace could be amplified.
And that might be important if one, for instance, was angling for the accolades that come with being named Fastest Dachshund in the Central West.
Which, come 18 September, will be a crown for the taking.
The Cowra Harness Racing Club have decided to switch things up and make their Carnival of Cups and Family Fun Day all about horses and hounds, with a full race program that includes all sorts of activities to round out its hopes to attract families from near and far for the event.
Adding a 25-metre dash for the dachshunds to the day at Cowra Showgrounds is not unlike throwing down the gauntlet to nearby Young with its current explosion of the diminutive dogs, rendering it maybe the unofficial sausage dog capital of Australia.
Cowra Harness Racing Club president Darryl Davis says the event has proven a success with other state harness racing clubs and they decided they’d give it a go, given Cowra also has its share of dachshunds.
He’s looking forward to seeing who, or which town, emerges the winner.
It’ll be a ripper of an event, with bridle-style bandanas and race numbers being prepared for the dachshund race entrants with three heats and one final scheduled.
Given the breed’s proclivity for sniffy independence, with a large lick of doggedness, Darryl has allayed any concerns the competitors might go bush instead of sticking to the race plan, by ensuring the race is held in an enclosed area in front of the broadcast box.
Winnings include $500 cash and a pet bed donated by local business Katz N Dogs but there are limited spots available, so entries need to be in by 1 September by contacting the club via Facebook Messenger or emailing [email protected]. The entry fee is $20.
In addition to the races, the club is holding a competition for the Best Dressed Dachshund – so if you can’t pin your hopes on your four-legged critter bringing home the bacon, there’s always that.
And by all means don’t stop there as glory awaits the best-dressed humans too – gents, ladies, minis, tiny tots and juniors.
Darryl says he’s hoping for a warm spring day for the Carnival of Cups, which is one of two major race events the club hosts each year, attracting horse entries from throughout NSW and the ACT.
“This is really just about getting the community more involved in what we do,” he says. “I can remember watching the trots when the [Cowra] show was on, and the whole community would stop and watch the races – this is about creating that carnival-type atmosphere so there’s something else to do as well as watching the races.”
He says the 20 or so market stalls arranged for the day will also act as drawcards for families.
But for the time being there’s lots of post-training downward facing dog stretching going on as race participants secretly prepare for the big day of the dachshund.
For more information visit Cowra Harness Racing Club’s Facebook page.
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