Buzz
The camel race wrapped up in just 20 seconds, while the ostrich-pulled chariots finished even faster. Without a clear start or finish line, timing was tricky, but every animal raced in the right direction, making the Meadowlands' third annual Ostrich Derby and Cameltonian a triumph.
"By Saturday, three camels might sprint straight, while one could end up running in circles," remarked animal handler Monte McClurg last Thursday, noting that camels can hit speeds of 35 mph.
Regarding the ostriches, McClurg quipped, "These birds are as trained as ostriches get," a modest benchmark at best. Their forward progress on Saturday evening was a victory in itself, though McClurg acknowledged that even chaos would have been its own kind of win.
"Our goal is to entertain, so if it takes an extra three seconds to cross the track, that’s a bonus," he explained. "Those are three more seconds of fun for the audience."
The races, which weren’t open for betting (at least not "officially," as I was informed), were held between standard harness races on Saturday evening at the New Jersey sports complex near Manhattan. This was one of two events for the four camels and three ostriches over the weekend, but rest assured, these animals aren’t overworked.
Of the roughly 70 camels raised and trained at Hedrick’s Exotic Animal Farm in Nickerson, KS—which also cares for the ostriches—each only travels to three or four races annually, spending the majority of their time on the farm. (They also make appearances in nativity scenes during December.)
This event included Snickers, Tantor, and two other camels from their barn, though all four were given playful, pun-filled names for the program. Ranging from 5 to 10 years old, they’re still young for camels, which can live up to 40 years. McClurg noted that each camel has its own lively personality.
"Next time someone claims camels are mean, you can set them straight," he said as Snickers leaned in for a friendly nuzzle.
Indeed, the animals were all affection and inquisitiveness during the rainy media morning. McClurg even praised Snickers, calling him an "honest camel," and added, "If he were human, I’d be proud to call him my son."
The ostriches, however, couldn’t join us on the concourse due to their unpredictable nature. With brains no larger than a thumbnail, training them to do more than run somewhat straight is challenging. While they can be ridden, at the Meadowlands, these towering birds pulled vibrant chariots equipped with a parachute-style quick-release mechanism, allowing them to detach at speeds of up to 25 mph.
Despite some negative reports, the three ostriches appeared quite friendly in their shared stall. Their large eyes and perpetually downturned beaks gave them a stern appearance, but they wandered curiously toward the group of reporters. We were cautioned, though, not to misinterpret their interest—Handler A.J. Augusto suggested they might have mistaken the camera clicks for the sound of another ostrich eating something tasty.
Take a look at the videos below to experience ostrich and camel racing firsthand, and stay alert—these races might be heading to a track near you soon.
All photos courtesy of Hannah Keyser.
