Mutt Derby

In the annual “Mutt Derby” charity race, canines compete while their proud owners cheer them from behind the finish line. The motley pack of pups seem to scamper for only a few feet before stopping and then shooting off in different directions. The charity event was organized by local Jaycees associations around South Florida. In these images from the 1960s, the pooches – complete with racing numbers – seem more focused on fun than competition.  

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2/27/1961, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Mutt Derby.
2/27/1961, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Contestants at the Mutt Derby.
2/27/1961, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: On your marks, get set, go! Mutt Derby.
2/27/1961, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Proud mutt owners at the Mutt Derby.
12/31/1961, Gene Hyde/Miami Herald Staff: Mutt Derby, Hollywood, Fla. They were off but they weren't all running Sunday at the greater Hollywood Jaycees' second annual Mutt Derby. The once a year chance for frustrated pooches who'd like to be greyhounds. Owners Yelling For Their Mutts On The Finish Line. Owners (left) Cheer Entries at Finish Line...while mothers, right, offer support from sidelines.
12/31/1961, Gene Hyde/Miami Herald Staff:Runnerup entry in Sunday's Mutt Derby at Hallandale was a poodle named Gi-Gi. Owner Bruce Frankel is loaded down with prizes which naturally includes packages of dog food. The winner of the race covered the 100 yards in 10 seconds.
1/5/1963, Gene Hyde/Miami Herald Staff: A boy and his best friend. Mutt Derby.
7/8/1964, Gene Hyde/Miami Herald Staff: Incredible. Charlie Brown, Plantation's contestant in the national Mutt Derby Championships in Miami, perks up an attentive ear as Craig Smith, 10, reads a storybook tale to her. (That’s right - Charlie Brown is a girl boxer.) The derby is to be run July 18 in the Orange Bowl and, while Charlie Brown may not outrun her opposition, she certainly appears to read as well as the best of them.
7/1/1964, Miami Herald Staff: Derby Official Al Morten. 'Puddles' and Doree Schechter...terrier has chance for national honors.'Mutt' Entry's Lucky. Puddles is Hollywood's only entry in the National Mutt Derby scheduled for the Orange Bowl, July 18. A frisky 23-pounder, he's owned by 13-year-old Loree Schecter. He won the trip to Miami by outlegging all entries in the lightweight division of the Hollywood Mutt Derby this winter. In two weeks he'll be matched against mutts from every state in the union. Doree will be joined by Craig Smith of Plantation, whose pet is Charlie Brown, part boxer, part-something.
3/19/1964, Maurice Holley Jr./Miami Herald Staff: Ricky Sargent teases Weenie with toy rabbit to train him for running the West Palm Beach Pooch Preakness. They Hope Mutt Derby Is a 'Howling Success'.
2/27/1961, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: And they're off! Mutt Derby.
2/27/1961, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald Staff: Mutt Derby.

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