Wiener takes all: Buda dog races return for 26th year — but how did it all get started?

Bianca Moreno-Paz
·4 min read

Over 20 years ago, Buda resident Diane Krejci approached the Buda Lions Club with the idea to host wiener dog races, having been inspired by dachshund races she saw in Savannah, Georgia.

Despite initial hesitation that the event may be unusual, the Lions Club held its first wiener dog race in 1998, with approximately 35 dogs participating.

After running the event for several years, and seeing steady growth in attendance, the races received national attention in 2001 when "CBS Sunday Morning" correspondent Bill Geist visited the event while on a 5,600-mile cross-country RV trip, highlighting stories from across the U.S.

“Bill Geist came down and did a segment on the wiener dog races. 15 minutes after the show aired, our president started getting phone calls about the races,” said Charles Handrick, a member of the Buda Lions Club. “That year we had over 600 dogs show up to race, and we had traffic snarled from downtown Buda all the way up to I-35.”

A Dachshund named Duke crosses the finish line in the mixed breed Dachshund finals during the 25th Annual Buda Wiener Dog Races in Buda Texas on April 24, 2022.
A Dachshund named Duke crosses the finish line in the mixed breed Dachshund finals during the 25th Annual Buda Wiener Dog Races in Buda Texas on April 24, 2022.

Since then the popularity of the event has exploded, with the event now selling over 20,000 tickets per year. This year, due to the demand and popularity, Handrick expects to sell up to 30,000 tickets.

By mid-April, the Buda Lions Club already has 200 dogs pre-registered for this year’s event, with many more expected to register in the days leading up to the event.

Any money raised from the event goes directly into the Lions Club charity fund, whose primary focus is helping visually impaired and blind individuals.

“We try to keep the charity money local as much as we can. We fundraise for local 4-H chapters, as well as pay out 22 $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors at the three high schools in our area,” said Handrick.

Maria Pronske, from Austin, has attended the event since 2002 with her standard dachshund Greta placing third overall in 2005.

From left, Maria Pronske holds Otto, Thomas Pronske holds Johnny, and Erik Pronske holds Rhett ahead of the 2023 Buda Wiener Dog Races.
From left, Maria Pronske holds Otto, Thomas Pronske holds Johnny, and Erik Pronske holds Rhett ahead of the 2023 Buda Wiener Dog Races.

This year, the races will be a family affair with two of Pronske’s dachshunds running – 14-year-old Rhett and 2-year-old Otto — as well as her son’s rescue dachshund, 7-year-old Johnny.

Pronske has been training Otto, the greenest of the pack, by teaching him to sit and stay in place until lured over by a squeaky toy. A more seasoned competitor and winner, Rhett, “runs fast because he just knows that there’s food at the end of the race,” said Pronske.

When are the 2023 Buda Wiener Dog Races?

The 26th annual Buda Wiener Dog Races, hosted by the Buda Lions Club, will take place April 29-30 at Buda City Park (204 San Antonio Street, Buda).

This year’s event will be "Top Gun"-themed, with an assortment of activities such as an International Barbecue Cookers Association barbecue cook-off, crafts and food vendors, and kids games.

The highlight of the two-day celebration will be the four wiener dog races, taking place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, and at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Mixed-breed dachshunds can participate in their own races, at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, non-dachshund attendants can participate in a four-category pet parade, with categories such as most colorful, best pet & owner (matching) costumes, most unusual, and best theme.

On Saturday, shuttle buses will leave from Cabela’s, and run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday, shuttle buses will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Camo, a mix breed Dachshund in yellow, crosses the finish line while competing at the 25th Annual Buda Wiener Dog Races in Buda, Texas on April 24, 2022.
Camo, a mix breed Dachshund in yellow, crosses the finish line while competing at the 25th Annual Buda Wiener Dog Races in Buda, Texas on April 24, 2022.

2023 Buda Wiener Dog Races schedule:

Saturday, April 29

  • 8 a.m. Registration for Wiener Dog Races; Pet Parade Registration and Judging

  • 9 a.m. Pet Parade begins; music by DJ Jimmy Z

  • 9:15 a.m. Opening Ceremonies – Presentation of Colors; Pet Parade Awards

  • 10 a.m. Wiener Dog Races Begin

  • 11 a.m. Turn-In Beans

  • Saber Guild - Jake Temple

  • 11:30 a.m. Mixed Breed Dachshund Races Begin

  • 11:45 a.m. MC/DJ Vincent till 5:00PM

  • 12 p.m. Turn-In Chicken

  • Elvis

  • 12:30 p.m. How Fast is Your Dog?

  • 1:30 p.m. Turn-In Ribs

  • 2 p.m. Wiener Dog Races Begin

  • 2:30 p.m. Western Express

  • 3 p.m. Mixed Breed Dachshund Races Begin; Turn-In Brisket

  • 5:30 p.m. Cook-Off Awards

Sunday, April 30

  • 8:30 a.m.  Registration for Wiener Dog Races

  • 9 a.m. Music by DJ Jimmy Z

  • 10 a.m. Wiener Dog Races

  • 11:30 a.m.  Mixed Breed Dachshund Races

  • Dance Unlimited

  • 12:30 p.m. How Fast is Your Dog?; Mariachi Clasico

  • 1:30 p.m. Mixed Breed Dachshund Finals & Awards

  • 3 p.m. Wiener Dog Quarter Finals, Semifinals and Finals; Wiener Dog Winner Trophy Presentation

Map of the 2023 Buda Wiener Dog Races

The 2023 Buda Weiner Dog Races Map shows a dog track, food court, vendors and the BBQ Cook-Off event.
The 2023 Buda Weiner Dog Races Map shows a dog track, food court, vendors and the BBQ Cook-Off event.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 2023 Buda Wiener Dog Races return for 26th year. Here's how it started