Back by popular demand, one of the biggest events of the live horse racing season at Grand River Raceway will feature four-legged warriors of a markedly different kind.

The fifth annual Ren’s Pets Wiener Dog Races at Grand River Raceway is set for Friday, July 5. Dachshund registration is now open and limited to 30 spots at $50 per dog. Advance registration is required.

2018 Ren’s Pets Wiener Dog Races at Grand River Raceway.

Parking and admission is free for the general public. There are several food and beverage options onsite, including food trucks from Spanky’s BBQ, Frannie’s Chuck Wagon and Ish & Chips. The Captain’s Quarters Dining Room overlooking the racetrack is already sold-out for the evening.

In all, the evening offers spectators four dog races and 10 horse races.

The horse races will begin at 6:30 p.m. on July 5. The three qualifying heats of wiener dog races will be contested consecutively starting at 8:00 p.m. The top three finishers from each dash will advance to the race final at 8:45 p.m. All races are 20 metres in length.

All participating dogs will receive a swag bag compliments of the event sponsors. All winners of the qualifying race heats receive a small gift. The runner-up and third-place finisher in the race final receive a $50 gift. The champion of the race final wins a trophy and more than $300 in prizes. All dogs will be profiled in the evening’s race program and on the TV broadcast.

2018 Race champ Dash, owned by owned by Katie Sudds and Brian Hardy of Tavistock, Ont.

See the Grand River Raceway website (here) for complete event details, rules and online dog registration.

(Grand River Raceway)