Fastest Wiener in the West

When the starting gate lifted, some ran to the left, some to the right. Others just stood there, confused.

But 6-year-old Zoey knew exactly what to do, dashing toward the finish line and winning the first heat of the 16th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals, one of the nation’s largest dachshund races.

The Los Angeles/Orange County qualifier—one of several preliminary races around the nation—was held Saturday at the Los Alamitos Race Course, where more 10,000 people turned out to watch what organizers called the “biggest littlest race in history.”

The heats and final round were all 50-yard dashes. The winner, defending champ Penny Lane of Buena Park, took home a new doghouse, $1,000 cash and bragging rights. She'll also have a shot at the national title in Del Mar on Labor Day.

(Second place went to Mr. Schnitzel of Newbury Park, owned by Luis and Lois Hernandez.)

Wienerschnitzel "organized the event to be more involved with the community, and what better way than wiener races?” said Antonietta Smekal, a spokeswoman for the hot dog chain. “It’s all good family fun.”

The Los Alamitos race is one of the competition's biggest, officials said. Qualifying rounds in Albuquerque and San Diego also draw large turnouts.

To encourage families to attend, Smekal said, admission prices are kept low. This year, children entered for free and adult tickets were $3.

Many of the spectators were owners and supporters of the tiny athletes.

Trish Ausilo of Buena Park brought her extended family to watch Penny Lane—a 3½-year-old female—defend her title. Last year, Penny Lane beat out dozens of dogs in Los Alamitos, shocking Ausilio.

“I knew she was fast, but I didn't expect her to win,” Ausilio said.

What's the dog's secret? Ausilio said Penny Lane doesn't follow a strict diet or exercise regimen, but does participate in local races to “keep her in shape.”

On Saturday, Penny Lane waited for the race in a baby’s playpen covered by an umbrella to keep her cool. Part of the reason for the pampering was because the dog saved her master’s life, said Connie Ausilio, the owner's sister-in-law.

A few years ago, Penny Lane warned her owner of an intruder, enabling Trish to scare off the thief.

Penny Lane was one of 98 contestants selected for Saturday's race. To participate, owners had to creatively persuade race officials why their dog deserved a spot.

Orlando Gutierrez, director of marketing and publicity for the Los Alamitos Race Course, helped judge the entries.

“We want to know why their dog is the fastest in the West,” Gutierrez said. “But physical ability is not the only criteria.”

The 150 submissions for this year's race included movie posters, letters from a class of kindergartners and one owner who developed a Facebook fan page for the dog.

Barbara Wainer opted for the honest approach, telling the judges that winning wasn't why she wanted her year-old dog, Max, to participate.

“I wrote that, whether he wins or not, he’s still my little champion,” Wainer said. “I wanted him to have fun and be around his dachshund friends.”

Nevertheless, on Saturday, she still had a strategy for victory, bringing Max’s favorite toys—including a rubber hamburger squeak toy—to coax him into running quickly to her.

“I have good hope for him,” she said before the race.

Over the past 11 years, proceeds from the local wiener race have gone to the , a nonprofit no-kill shelter that officials say serves more than 200 animals at any given time.

Since Wienerschnitzel and the Los Alamitos Race Course partnered with the shelter, nearly $200,000 has been donated, said Jim Welch, fundraising volunteer with the center.

“We’re very happy with the support of the Race Course and Wienerschnitzel,” said Welch. “The money has helped us pay for medical expenses for the animals.”