Horse Racing Track Holds ‘Grandparents Derby’ And It’s My New Favorite Sport
Picture this. It’s a beautiful summer day. The sun is shining down on the perfectly groomed race track. You’ve placed your bets. It’s post time. All eyes are on the gates. They swing open…and they’re off! But instead of horses blazing toward the wire, it’s about two dozen AARP members. Move over, pickleball. Here comes America’s next big sports craze: grandparent racing!
According to KING-TV, the first-ever “Grandparents Derby” was held at the Emerald Downs race track in Auburn, Washington on Sunday, June 25th. It was a part of Grandparents Weekend, which included free entry to the racetrack for grandparents, as well as prize drawings.
Emerald Downs reports that about 20 grandmothers and grandfathers participated in Sunday’s race. The action was fast and furious. And a little dangerous. The video (below) shows two of the grandparents tumbling down onto the dirt track. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. By all accounts, even though they had fallen, they could get up.
Steve Butler of Everett, Washington, was crowned the winner of the inaugural 40-yard foot race. He said it was his first race in 50 years. Butler had played high school football at Cascade High School, where he raced against some teammates during a practice in 1973.
Apparently, Emerald Downs is known for this sort of thing. In the past, the race track 25 miles south of Seattle has held other attention-getting events such as corgi races, bulldog races, and baby races.
You know, we have race tracks in the Charlotte area, too. Sure, they’re for cars instead of horses, but why couldn’t we have a bunch of memaws and paw-paws running around The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway? Ladies and gentlemen, start your Skechers!
