STARKVILLE — A symphony of barks and the thundering of tiny paws are about to return Saturday to the Cotton District, as dachshunds race for glory in the third annual Starkville Derby, presented by Bocock Brothers Premium Cigars.

Event Organizer Alden Thornhill said the derby is set to bring about 215 racers from all across the country to the city, ready to compete and celebrate all things dachshund.

“You will see some amazing short kings and queens racing for glory,” Thornhill said.

Festival grounds will be open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thornhill said, though he encouraged viewers to get there early to find their seats along a 100 foot long turf green. Thornhill said there will be bleachers available along the track, along with a separate viewing area with a jumbotron where attendees can set up a blanket or a chair.

More than 130 food and art vendors will also be set up on the festival grounds, Thornhill said, along with children’s activities like pony rides and bounce houses. The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile will be making an appearance as well, he said.

This year, Thornhill said a few things have changed, as the derby has added frisbee dogs performing tricks to its entertainment lineup. The event will also be broadcast by the Mississippi State University Television Center, he said.

Parking will be available at the Mill at MSU and the Barnes and Noble on the MSU campus, Thornhill said, with vehicles ferrying attendees to the festival grounds.

“The recipe stays the same,” Thornhill said. “It’s creating this fun event that’s something you’re not going to see anywhere else in the middle of the Cotton District.”

May the ‘top dog’ win

Before the races begin, there will be two flyovers from the Mississippi Aviation Academy and Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, along with a performance of the national anthem and a call to post. After that, he said, it’s off to the races.

Participating pups will compete in five divisions, Thornhill said, including adults, seniors, puppies, special needs and pretenders (non-dachshund racers). The dogs will compete in heats until the “top dog” wins in each, he said.

Starkville resident Taylor Jernigan has brought her parents’ three dachshunds from Atlanta, and her own pup to compete in the derby since it began.

In the race’s inaugural year, her family’s dogs Camie, 14, and Dak, 9, won the senior and adult divisions. Jernigan’s own dachshund, Levi, 2, won the puppy division last year, along with a preliminary race at an MSU basketball game earlier this year.

All four dogs, she said, love the race and are motivated to run by the same thing.

“People ask us all the time, what do you do? How do you train them?” Jernigan said. “… And when I tell you, we do nothing. … They’re all obsessed with this little mini basketball. … We just let them play with that, and as long as that’s at the finish line, every single one of our dogs just runs straight to it.”

While Levi will have to move to the adult division this year, Jernigan said she still believes he may defend his winning streak, since he is really “wild about that stupid basketball.” Her parents’ other dog, Andouille, 2, will also be making his debut in the puppy division. But Jernigan said it’s really not about winning or losing, for any of the pups.

“It’s just fun,” Jernigan said. “At the end of the day, yes, it’s a race and it gets competitive and whatever, but everyone’s there because they love wiener dogs and it’s a fun day.”

Every year, Jernigan said, she has watched the derby grow. This year, she expects no different.

“I was a little shocked at first at how many people really cared about a wiener dog race,” Jernigan said. “Even the first year, it was crazy packed. And last year, it was even more so, so I can’t even imagine with it being Super Bulldog Weekend this year how it’s going to be, but that just makes it even more fun.”

Thornhill said the crowd has grown over the years into the tens of thousands for a variety of reasons, including hard work from the derby team, social media marketing and love for the breed across the country.

A cause with four paws

Thornhill said the derby’s growth has been possible since its expenses have stayed low, thanks to in-kind donations, like having turf donated by Bluff City Turf Co. That’s crucial, he said, since all the funds raised by the derby go to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society’s general fund.

“It’s a really good cause for those with four paws,” Thornhill said. “All the funds go to the humane society. We don’t make a cent off of this. We’re 100% volunteer driven.”

OCHS Executive Director Michele Anderson told The Dispatch in a text message that she is looking forward to seeing everyone come out on Saturday.

“We’re so excited about this year’s Starkville Derby and grateful to the awesome planning committee led by Alden and Abby Thornhill,” Anderson said. “The funds raised from this event will help us provide critical services and care for the more than 6,000 animals that come through our doors each year.”

Last year, Thornhill said, the event raised $45,000 for OCHS. He hopes to “crush” that number this year, he said, thanks to the derby’s sponsorships and other donations.

“Come on out and have a tail wagging good time while helping out shelter pets,” Thornhill said.

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