'Sausage dog mecca'? Yes, the Starkville Derby is bringing a wiener dog race to Mississippi
STARKVILLE — Like most great ideas, this one sparked on a patio outside Two Brothers Smoked Meats. Alden Thornhill, a 2015 graduate of Mississippi State, was enjoying a meal with his wife while glancing over the Cotton District.
A perfect setup for a race, Thornhill thought. Not for NASCAR. Not for IndyCar. Not for Formula 1.
This was a perfect racing ground for wiener dogs.
So, the planning started. He got in touch with Paige Watson at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership. He went in front of the city’s development board to pitch the idea. Once he received approval, it became official.
The Starkville Derby: Dachshund Dash is coming to town May 6 – the weekend Mississippi State baseball hosts Arkansas. It’s a free event in the Cotton District with proceeds from sponsors and donations, after expenses, going to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society. Mississippi State basketball coach Chris Jans will serve as the grand marshal.
“College towns revolve around these eclectic events,” Thornhill said. There were 76 dogs signed up as of last week.
“We’re the sausage dog mecca, I’ve realized,” Thornhill joked.
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To accommodate the growing number, the racers will be divided into four categories: Seniors, adults, puppies and pretenders.
The first three are self-explanatory. The final category will allow any dog to run, but they must be dressed in a hot dog costume.
The races will be divided into heats. If there’s a category with 50 dogs, Thornhill estimates they’ll have 10 races with five dogs each. Winners will advance toward a final race. An Olympic-style podium will await the winners along with rose wreaths at the wiener’s circle VIP area.
“It’s going to be a very unique atmosphere,” Thornhill said.
Of course, Thornhill is a proud dachshund owner. King Memphis will be among the racers looking to make a splash in a race running down University Drive. The race will begin outside Two Brothers and Bin 612 and go down to Bulldog Burger – about 50-60 yards, Thornhill estimates.
Safety netting will be put up along the sides while the street will be closed to foot and paw traffic only. Fans are welcome to watch from the surrounding streets, restaurants, bars and balconies. QR codes will be available for those looking to donate during the race.
“To be able to help out the pets and the great volunteers and people at Oktibbeha Humane is just really special,” said Thornhill, whose first non-family dog was a shelter dog he got in college.
Thornhill hopes the race becomes an annual event, but he isn’t done compiling intrigue for this year’s contest. He’s working to get the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile in attendance.
“It’s going to be ridiculously fun,” Thornhill said. “I can’t wait.”
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What is the Starkville Derby? It's Mississippi's wiener dog race
