The clouds were low enough to lap at and frizz out my hair on the rain mist day when we recently attended the “Weiner Dog Races” at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans. The venue billed the event, in part, by writing, “Cheer on these tiny, turbocharged canines at the cutest event of the season!” Well, “cutest” was an understatement.
The event consisted of traditional horse racing, with about seven Dachshund races intermittently occurring throughout the day. I must mention that it was possibly the muddiest track in racetrack history. That may be an exaggeration, but stating that it was a serious slop-fest is NOT an exaggeration!
The dreary weather did not dampen the festive atmosphere, which was complete with spectators who fully embraced the spirit of the Weiner Dog event. Dachshund owners did their best to display their belief in their pets' unrivaled racing abilities by parading them to the track with pride, some even hoisting their little best friends above their heads so onlookers could view these little victory-seeking vessels.
The event’s playful tone was further complemented by songs like “Who Let the Dogs Out” and “Bow Wow-Yippie Yo Yippie Yay” being blasted through the Fairgrounds' speaker system. The crowd cheered louder with every beat.
I don’t have to describe what it looked like to see these short-legged, long-bodied, (mostly) energetic maniacs enthusiastically sprinting toward, or sometimes away from, the finish line, or mention how many of them flipped in the slop on their way to victory because your imagination is absolutely correct. It IS all THAT and even more comical. The crowd was smiling, laughing, and cheering while the animals lived their best lives and grabbed their moment to shine before us all. Precious.
As stated, traditional horseraces were being run. The racehorses are breathtakingly gorgeous, and seeing one up close is humbling. The Kentucky Derby-type, wide-brimmed hats were abundant, but I especially loved the crimson hat worn by a woman who caught my eye from across the “Parade Ring” or “paddock,” basically where the horses are walked in front of racegoers before the race. I’ll just say that her hat and that woman were exquisite. But the best part of my day was about to happen.
My thirty-year-old son, who has Down Syndrome, came with my husband and me. He is always fascinated by beautiful horses and deeply loves dogs. We positioned ourselves near the track entrance to ensure he would get a glimpse of the little contenders when they were entering and exiting the track. The speed at which they moved onto and off the track made it a little difficult for my son to get a good look at every dog, but he was trying his best to get at least a split-second glimpse of each “puppy,” which is what he calls all dogs regardless of age. Then, suddenly, and unexpectedly, he got super lucky.
A kind-hearted woman, whom I’ll affectionately call “Angel Lady,” had just left the track with her competitor pup, and she noticed my son. She hesitated a moment and then chose to walk over to us and ask him if he wanted to pet her dog. My son, clearly mesmerized by this incredible opportunity, gently reached out to the winded little K-9 and softly petted her. Angel Lady said, “This is Luna.” My son, who is mostly non-verbal, did not look at Angel Lady; he was too engrossed in the approximate ten-second interaction with Luna. I said, “Thank you!” before she and Luna departed. A thank you was really not enough.
This spontaneous and genuine act of kindness left an indelible mark on me, and the moment reminded me that the little things ARE the big things. (Sigh.) I may never know how Luna fared in her race, but to me, her human, Angel Lady, is a champion of the highest order. Cheers to her and her kind.
(Below: Watch the 27-second video below to see Angel Lady's spontaneous act of kindness.)
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal 6:10 King James Version)
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