A mad dash

Jose Paul Corona

Nearly 200 people converged on Old World Village on Sunday for an

event that has become an annual ritual for many of them.

The eighth annual Old World Village Dachshund Races returned to

Huntington Beach and the crowd could not have been happier.

Both young and old were ready to watch the petite pooches race their

little hearts out.

One spectator drove down from Beverly Hills to see the race, said race

organizer Inge McKellop.

While 30 canines competed, each owner cheered on their pooch, but only

Bruno got to stand in the winners circle.

Newport Beach resident Poppy Nichols was ecstatic when her little

wiener dog won the race.

Bruno was the first dog to make it to the end of the 25-yard track.

Some theater buffs were rooting for Clarice and Hannibal, the two

dachshunds named after the main characters in the film “The Silence of

the Lambs.”

Dog owners stood at the end of the track and did whatever they could

to try and get their best friend’s attention. Some tried to entice the

dachshunds with food; one owner had a cheeseburger ready for his pooch.

Others waved stuffed toys, such as the floppy bird one owner waved --

another woman simply called out her dogs named and waved.

Even though Bruno was the true champion none of the dogs left the race

empty handed, McKellop said.

“Nobody goes away without some kind of prize,” she said.

And anyone who thinks that these dogs are mistreated, she added, is

sadly mistaken.

“These dogs are very pampered,” McKellop said, “They love to run.”

The next dachshund race will be held on July 14. Anyone wishing to

enter their dachshund should call Inge McKellop at (714) 898-5111 for more information.