Burrow, bottom, crosses the finish line to win the 4th annual wiener dog race at the Fayette County Fair Wednesday, July 17, 2024. At the top, No. 3, Henry, the two-time defending champion, placed second and No. 4, Sadie Sue, placed third.
Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald photos
Will Fitzgerald holds Burrow, along with daughter, Kendall, moments after Burrow won the 4th annual wiener dog race at the Fayette County Fair Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Will Fitzgerald holds the new wiener dog race champion, Burrow, aloft in front of the McDonald’s grandstand Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
The Fitzgerald family after Burrow won the 4th annual wiener dog race at the Fayette County Fair Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (l-r); Will holding Burrow, Kendall, Paige, Julie and Ally.
The Fayette County Fair Queen, attendants and some of the commodity queens, along with the sponsors from Hills Pet Nutrition of Washington Court House and the Will Fitzgerald family in a celebratory mood their loving dog, Burrow, won the 4th annual wiener dog race Wednesday, July 17, 2024. In front (l-r); Brian Crooks and Brenda Collins, representing Hills Pet Nutrition; Tami Johnson; (back, l-r); Queen’s Attendant Katie Harris, Fair Queen Amberly Szczerbiak, Queen’s Attendant Kaley Moser, Will Fitzgerald holding Burrow, Kendall Fitzgerald, Paige Fitzgerald, Julie Fitzgerald, Ally Fitzgerald, Katy Bock, Meat Goat Ambassador; Josh Mick of Hills Pet Nutrition; Kierra Cowman, Dog Ambassador; Kierlyn Calentine, Horse Queen and 1991 Fayette County Fair Queen Mary Jo Jacobson Kendrick.
There is a new wiener dog champion for 2024 at the Fayette County Fair.
Burrow, a member of the Will Fitzgerald family, won the 4th annual event Wednesday, July 17.
Two-time defending champion, Henry, placed second, Sadie Sue was third and Winston was fourth.
The dog was named in honor of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow is two years old and was competing in his second wiener dog race at the fair.
“He didn’t make the (finals) last year,” Fitzgerald said.
“He loves to chase a ball, so we throw the ball every day in the yard,” Fitzgerald said. “He just runs and runs and runs.
“He just loves to chase a ball, but we were afraid to bring it, because we didn’t know what the rules were, plus, every other dog might chase it, too,” Fitzgerald said.
“He ran a hot race today,” Fitzgerald said. “My daughter, Paige, is why we got the dog. She did a presentation for us to prove why we needed to get the dog.”
Fitzgerald explained a bit more about this.
“We have another dog, a big dog,” Fitzgerald said. “(Paige) wanted us to get a little dog. So, we said, ‘alright, prove to us why we need this little dog.”
The family’s other dog is a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Rookie.
“They remind me of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito (the movie Twins),” Fitzgerald said.
“So, she created a power point presentation with all the benefits of having (a little dog),” Fitzgerald said. “How they can fit on your lap, where a big dog would crush your lap. This was three years ago.
“She did that and it was a pretty good presentation,” Fitzgerald said. “We were pretty happy that she took the time to research the breeds and find a breeder that we could contact. We never really thought about getting a miniature wiener dog before, but that’s the breed she picked and really wanted to get. So, we ended up buying one from down by Chillicothe.
“We’re definitely proud of Burrow,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s nervous around that many people. He was really amped up (before the race), really hard to contain. He was really trying to jump out of my hands and run to my wife, Julie.
“We separated them,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re really happy, because we’re trying to get him acclimated to more people. With all the people who came up and petted him, he did really good.
“We took my wife away and basically hid her,” Fitzgerald said. “That was part of our game plan. He was really antsy trying to get to her. He’s with my wife all day, she works from home. That’s his person.
“We’re super-proud that he went straight for the finish line,” Fitzgerald said. “He doesn’t always go straight, but, this time, he just bolted.”
As for the name, Fitzgerald said, “That’s why we named him Burrow; we’re big Bengals fans. It was Burrow from the start. I think that was one of the first names that was brought up. Everyone said, ‘that’s perfect.’
“My wife is a life-long Browns fan,” Fitzgerald said. “Her dad was a big Cleveland fan, but, we’re slowly converting her to the Bengals because that’s who we watch every Sunday.”
As for defending the title in 2025, Fitzgerald said, “We’ll be back.”
The event was sponsored by local business Hills Pet Nutrition.
“We definitely want to thank Hills Pet Nutrition,” Fitzgerald said.
