Community Corner

Somerville Pig Races to Benefit Operation Shoebox, Other Nonprofits

Saturday's 'Festi-ville' includes dachshunds racing as 'hot dogs.'

Down the stretch they come ... and the winner by a snout is Piggly Wiggly, followed in second by Pork Roll & Cheese, with Squeals of Delight third and bringing up the rear, Pork Butt.

Somerville’s inaugural Festiville, sponsored by the Downtown Somerville Alliance, will feature the first-ever Pig Races on West Main Street on Saturday, beginning at noon.

There will be five races, one per hour, including a few “Hot Dog” races.

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A field of four Dachshunds will also trot out to the starting gate—complete with hot dog rolls strapped across their backs, topped off with a squiggle of mustard.

Spectators are encouraged to crowd up to the edge of the track and watch Hold the Mustard,Stretch Limo, Mighty Dog and Tiny stretch out to grab the coveted checkered flag!

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Each animal will wear a colored racing silk—purple, pink, orange and blue—to help spectators keep track of their four-legged “investment.” Tickets will be placed in buckets with the corresponding color, with all bets donated to the charity of choice.

The Smokehouse Barbecue Restaurant at 45 W. Main St. in Somerville is the sponsor of Saturday’s Hot Dog Pig Races held to benefit five local charities.

Betting will be encouraged before each race, with the proceeds donated to the following organizations:
Race 1: Somerville Rescue Squad;
Race 2: Bridgewater PBA;
Race 3: 4-H Clubs of Somerset County;
Race 4: Operation Shoebox New Jersey;
Race 5: American Cancer Fund.

Volunteers from each organization are expected to be on hand. Donations will also be encouraged from bettors for the privilege of “naming rights” for each animal in each race, according to Smokehouse Barbecue owner Sean Ulley. T-shirts will also be sold to raise money for the five charities, he added.

The circular racetrack will be set up on West Main Street between North Davenport Street andNorth Doughty Street.

Tickets are $1 each, 7 for $10 and 15 for $20, according to Ulley.

The oval track measures 50-by-75 feet; the animals will be racing on a padded indoor/outdoor carpet surface. Each race and accompanying entertainment takes 20 minutes, with the animals rested for 40 minutes in between races in an air-conditioned trailer, according to David Feimster, owner of F&F Productions, based in Jackson. He has been traveling around the country for 25 years with his stable.

“We’ll go to Blue Hill, Maine, to Phoenix, Ariz., over the course of a year,” Feimster said.

Any tips on which pig to bet to win?

“Pick the pink pig with the curly tail,” he said.

Further information is available by calling The Smokehouse at (908) 864-4646 or visit the restaurant's website.

Submitted by Rod Hirsch


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