Ready, set, go: Annual wiener dog race takes place

SEATTLE -- Emerald Downs will host the 17th Annual Weiner Dog races this weekend where a host of small dogs will get to take to the big track.

The dogs are all purebred dachshunds and Thursday's Wiener Dog Rally was a trial race, held to winnow the racers down to the final few contenders.

"The owners of these dogs take this very seriously and they use varying methods to get the dogs to run. Sometimes they'll have a little squeaky toy or a tennis ball. Other times they're food motivated But, they all have their way to train to get from one end to the other as quickly as possible," Alan Budwill of the Kent and Alan Show on Star 101.5, which sponsors the event.

"They're big chasers, so I'm hoping once they see the other ones going, they'll just chase after 'em," first-time participant Vanessa Alicia said.

Thursday's top two winner will join 22 other dachshunds on Sunday for the final race -- and a chance to earn the title of fastest wiener dog in the land.