Races
RACE UPDATE: WEATHER ADVISORY:
RPlease check the Savannah Waterfront Association / River Street Savannah website: for latest updates on the Overall Oktoberfest schedule/ weather forecast. Here is link ;
http://www.riverstreetsavannah.com/
THE RACES are part of the OVERALL 3-Day
Great American Wiener Dawg Weekend
FRIDAY: OCt 3, 5;30 PM
Wiener Dawg Art Exhibiton Preview : Opening Ceremonies;
Grayson Stadium,
SATURDAY
WIENER DAWG RACES:
Where: RiverStreet, at foot of Abercorn St. Ramp - in Parking Lot
Across from Savannah Candy
8:00 AM : Volunteers Arrive
9:00 AM Registration for Dachshunds that are racing. Even if you pre-registered, please stop by REGISTRATION Desk to get your “Heat” assignment. Races are divided in “Heats” based upon age, weight/size. Also if your dachshund, is part of an armed forces/ military family - please let us know when you check In -and if you’d like to participate in the NAVY CHallenge Race - this is limited to first 10 armed forces dogs that sign in.
TO REGISTER: $20 per dachshund racing, and need proof of Rabies Vacination and each dachshund requires 2 people: OWNER and 1 HELPER to put dog in chute - while owner goes to end of track.
10:00 AM: Actual Racing Starts.
11:00 AM Fashion Show, / Costume Time - We invite all dachshunds, especially ones too old or too young to race - to participate in Fashion Show.
11;30 AM: NavyChallenge Race - Hosted by USS HAWES, the Navy is racing 3 dachshunds - and we invite armed forces family’s dachshunds to race at this time, Registration is required.
12:00 NOON: Final Race. Shuttle Buses - on Hand to take you to :
GRAYSON STADIUM:
WIENER WEEKEND CONTINUES: Wieners Out at the Ballpark
MOre Races -with SMALL DOG WORLD CUP
Pug Parade
Chihuahua CHA CHA
Terrier Terrific Dash
We award 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Prizes, based upon winning race times.
FINAL GRAND FINALE RACES
MASQUERADE BALL
Saturday at 7 PM - (LOCATION )
Format: Dachshund Register to race, given a bandanna, we have 10 different bandanna colors to help distinguish all those little doggies ! That’s the winner-the little RED dog - hmm- LOTS of little RED doggies 
2008 Fees: $20 per dog
HISTORY: The Annual Savannah Wiener Dawg Races were the brainchild of Mr. Rick Lott, the Executive Director of the Savannah Waterfront Association. Owned by dachshunds, himself, he came up with the idea in 1996 and launched the first race with help of his beloved dachshunds. Over the years, he expanded the races, with the help of his team, talented Kenny Hill and the vivacious Ms. Jessica Crocker, growing the races into one of the most amazing events on the East Coast. Definitely, one of the Largest Dachshund Events on the planet !! The Waterfront Team’s good works has resulted in lifelong memories and hours of fun for families, dogs, visitors to Savannah, as well as raising much-needed money to help local pet charities.
Wieners racing for Wieners!! In 2006, The Savannah Dachshund Club was asked to take on the duties of organizing the race. This marked a memorable milestone -in the race’s history - for the first time - all profits from the races - went directly to DACHSHUNDs ! Wieners racing for Wieners!! Ellen Hatcher, Shannon Wynn, Susan Catron, Richard Pfister, Hon. Judge Claire Williams, Ossie Lopez, John Fleming, and scores of other volunteers came out to help.
THE NAVY COMES ON BOARD ! Mr. Tom Wright of the Naval League also jumped in and helped to secure Sailors who were in town on shore leave - to help with crowd control and also as a way for them to do service in the local port of Savannah and meet Savannah natives. We’re pleased that this coordination with our men/women in uniform is continuing to this day !!
PET CHARITIES: also in 2006 the Wiener Dawg Races - offered to every local pet charity the opportunity to display their materials, business cards, volunteer forms, calendar of events - etc - on ONE DISPLAY table - FREE OF CHARGE - as a means of helping ALL LOCAL Pet charities, dogs, cats, birds to gain new donors, sponsors, volunteers and just get the word out to the community
RACE REGULATIONS:
_Must be a dachshund (some SMALL mixed Breeds are accepted - decision is up to the Judging Committee) _IF not eligible to race, we suggest you enter your dawg into the Small Dogs Costume Contest which is open to Dachshund Mixes. that are under 30 lbs.
_Each Dog must have proof of Rabies Vaccination, tags or letter from Vet
_Each dog must be accompanied by 2 people, OWNER and HELPER to load dog into the Racing Chute
_No Food allowed in race track - owners can have their favorite TOY to help motivate their dog.
_$20 per dog racing fee (as of 2008)
_All dogs must be registered, prior to racing, and owners sign “Release of Liability/Photo Release”
MONEY: ALL PROFITS go directly to the nonprofit 501-c: Dachshund Race of North America, one of the largest and oldest Dachshund Rescue groups in the USA. Ms. Ellen Hatcher is the local Savannah area representative.
Any Questions?
Contact Scott West at 912-44-0977 or by email to scottwestmarketing [at] yahoo [dot] com
THANK YOU !
