Well it is that time of the year again. The Redcliffe Show. Which of course means the annual Pig Racing. Friday is “People’s Day” , free entry, and it is school holidays so every single mother and their kids and every Bogan (sometime the one and the same) in the area goes to the show.
The Show goes for three days with different events each day and the highlight of Friday is the Pig Racing. There is the usual horse jumping and displays by the Woodworking Society, The Honey Display, The Quilters Competitions and Horticultural displays. No farm machinery, or agricultural displays but there is Camel Rides and a Petting Zoo full of cute furry critters for the kiddies.
We are too close to Brisbane to have an agricultural show and too far out to be a city show like Brisbane’s Ekka or Sydney’s Royal Easter Show.
There are of course the usual rides and sideshow alley and the Show Bag vans flogging off the last of last years stock so the Carnies can stock up on new stuff for the Ekka which is in August.
The Pig Racing is the highlight and draws a big crowd. There is a pig race every hour during the afternoon. The idea is that everyone buys a ticket. There is then a draw and the winners get to select their pig. There are 6 pigs per race. Actually it is the same six pigs. The pigs race and the “owners” get a prize, $50 for first place and $25 for second place.
It is all very exciting. The Ladies don their cleanest pair of Ugg Boots and Tracky Dackys for the day and the gentlemen put on their best T-shirt and polish their thongs. The kiddies run around trying to figure out which one of the gathered men is their father.
I usually go to the Show on Friday because I’m a pensioner, it is free and… well…I’m a cheap bastard.
And being the party animal that I am I dress to suit the occasion.
My youngest son and Maureen race to get the first Dagwood Dog of the day.
Dodgy Dodgems
Dodgy Dagwood Dogs
They named an animal after me – Big Bad Al Paca
Awww Cute little critter.
An the Pig Racing is brought to you by:
The Starters in the mounting yard
Correct weight at the finish (Gold was the winner of this race)
Arrrgh! There be Pirates here abouts
The Tears of a Clown.
So that is the excitement over for another year. I can now start planning for next year’s trip to the Redcliffe Show and the annual Pig Racing. I hope you are excited as much as I was.
“til next year…
Big Bad Al
Wonder if racing pigs make good eating, or whether they're too stringy?
ReplyDeleteLean Bacon on the Hoof Doc.
ReplyDeleteYes, what we want is streaky bacon but odds are good it won't come from those that streak past their fatter and tastier companions
ReplyDeleteWell if all but the winner get eaten, that there is motivation!
ReplyDelete"The kiddies run around trying to figure out which one of the gathered men is their father"
ReplyDeleteSounds just like S***t. I had a class in the 70's with two boys who were half brothers & first cousins. Mothers were sisters but the husband of one fathered both kids. Everyone knew and the kids joked about it. One woman had five grown sons, all with different fathers. Fun place. Really!
@Graybeard
ReplyDeleteSo you were teaching up this way then?
Did you know, Dagwood Dogs - don't get me started on THAT stupid fucken name - are only called that at Ag Shows. At the F&C Shop they're Pluto Pups ... yes, another stupid fucken name, but there ya go. This leads to confusion for me, up till recently.
ReplyDelete@Moko
ReplyDeleteThere is a distinct and very important difference between the Dagwoog Dog and the Pluto Pup. The Dagwood Dog has a stick whereas the Pluto Pup is sans stick.
If you fail to recognise the difference between these two sub-species of gourmet delights you could end up with a stick sticking out the back of your neck.
Both are called 'hot dogs' in NZ, but mainly the stick variant. That baffled the shit out of me coming over here.
ReplyDeleteArrrr... So that's why Kiwis have that stick sticking out the back of their necks. I thought it was just some weird New Zealand mutation.
ReplyDeleteI asked for a 'hot dog' when I first came over here. Stupid mole gave me an 'AMERICAN hotdog'. Idiot.
ReplyDeleteINTRIGUING insight on the STICKS. I hadn't connected the difference although I am aware of their existence.
Damn you Yobbo, now I want a classic kiwi hotdog!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and photos Al!
WHATEVER HITS THE FAN WILL
ReplyDeleteNOT BE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY.
Corduroy pillows are making headlines!
Don't sweat the petty things.
Don't pet the sweaty things.
I am having an out-of-money experience.
Money isn't everything,
But it sure keeps the kids in touch.
I'm not your type.
I'm not inflatable.
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!
Except that one where you're naked in church.
Take that Sir! And there'll be more to come by crikey!