The whole race only pick out about about 20 seconds . And that was for the camels . The ostrich - draw chariot took even less sentence , but it ’s toilsome to tell for certain without a really discernible jump or polish off occupation . In both races , however , all of the participating fauna ran — and ran in the correct focusing — and because of that , the Meadowlands third annual Ostrich Derby and Cameltonian was a success .
" total Saturday , three of them might settle to bunk the right direction and one might decide to hunt down in circles , " beast handler Monte McClurg aver last Thursday about the camel , who can attain speeds of 35 mph .
As for the ostriches ? “ These ostriches are about as trained as an Struthio camelus can be , " McClurg tell . Which seems to be a low standard for comparison . So the forward motion Saturday even was something to celebrate ; but McClurg sympathise that even if bedlam had ensued , well , that would be its own form of winner .
“ We ’re here to entertain people , so if it take us an supererogatory three seconds to get across the death of the track , that ’s probably for the good , " he said . " That ’s three more seconds of entertainment . ”
The races , which you could n’t bet on ( at least , not " officially , " I was told ) , necessitate place in between the regular harness races Saturday evening at the New Jersey sports composite just outside Manhattan . It was one of two races for the four camels and three ostriches this past weekend , but do n’t worry about a scratchy life-time on the road for these ungulates and ratites .
Each of the 70 - or - so camels raised and trained onHedrick ’s Exotic Animal Farmin Nickerson , KS — which is also responsible for the ostrich — only travel to three or four races each yr , spending most of their time back at farm . ( Although , in December , they do take some time to work the nascency tour . )
This raceway sport Snickers , Tantor , and two of their barnmates , although all four were re - brand with more pun - heavy names for the program . The pack ranged in age from 5 to 10 days old , which is young for camels , who can live up to 40 . And each , according to McClurg , has his own gregarious personality .
“ Next time someone tells you how think camel are , you may set them , " he said as Snickers went in for a buss .
And it ’s true — the beast were all nuzzles and curio on the drizzly media morning . McClurg went so far in his praise of Snickers , who he described as an " honest camel , " to say that , " If he was a human , I ’d be proud to have him as a Logos . "
The Struthio camelus , however , were unable to link up us on the concourse out of concern for their unpredictability . Brains the size of your thumbnail make it tricky to train them to do much besides run comparatively true . And although they can be ride , at the Meadowlands , the towering flightless birds pull brightly colored chariots which can be disengaged from their harnesses with a parachute - style quick release at speeds up to 25 mph .
Despite disparaging reports , the three ostriches seemed friendly enough back in the barn , where they shared a single stall . Their encompassing eyes and for good down - turn hooter throw them an bulletproof disapproving look , but they meandered unafraid towards the crowd of reporter . We were quickly say , however , not to read too much into their plain interestingness in us : Handler A.J. Augusto reason that they must think the camera clicks were the sound of another ostrich munching some hidden , suitable solid food .
tick out the videos below for a taste of Struthio camelus and camel racing and keep an eye out — they might be come to a racetrack near you soon .
All photos courtesy of Hannah Keyser .
