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Little piggies race for cookies at fair

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Pigs run around the semi-circular course to win a cookie at the "Race to the Butcher" pig race at the Lycoming County Fair Thursday.

HUGHESVILLE — Racing fans crowded around the “Race to the Butcher” racing track at the 148th annual Lycoming County Fair on Thursday to see nine curlicue-tailed racers sprint for the ultimate prize — a golden cookie.

Piglets lined up to race each other as fans watched three different sets of three-pig races held at the Amelia Earhart Funway on opening day at the fair.

“These are the finest, most genuine thoroughbred racing pigs,” announcer Jason Kepner told the crowd. “These pigs, they are squealing back there and that means they are excited. They are racing for a good ol’ golden cookie.”

The event was a first for the fair and acted as one of many additions to kids entertainment added this year. Many young pig racing fans were excited for the event — some coming to the fair for that very reason.

“This was the whole reason we came to the fair,” Dylan Jenkins, who came with his two children and his wife.

Kepner invited young fans in the crowd to approach the fence where the racers would speed by them and to help lead the cheers for their chosen pigs. Those fans that led cheers for their chosen pigs all received ribbons for their hard work.

Racers like Bat Pig and Kevin Bacon raced the 40-foot track for their trophies but Kepner said despite racing for cookies, the pigs are fed often by their caretakers.

“We feed them about an hour before the show and after the race we give them all cookies,” he said. Kepner added that the pigs become used to getting cookies during practice runs and he was sure they knew what they were racing for.

The “Race to the Butcher” will be held at the small track every day of the fair at 7 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m.

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