Birds of a feather RACE together! Ostriches run for glory in side-splitting competition

They may not be able to fly, but ostriches have proven once and for all that their powerful legs are not just for show during a hilarious race held in New Orleans on Saturday.

The feathered racers and their jockeys took center stage at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Track during the fifth annual Quarter Horse Race.

Among the winged competitors were ‘Feather Duster,’ ‘I’ll Hatch Another,’ ‘Nom De Plumage,’ and ‘She’s Got Legs,’ but it was ‘Don’t Call Me Emu’ ridden by jockey Jeff Jerman that raced to victory on Saturday, according to the Pacific Coast News.

Amazing race: Ostriches mounted by jockeys raced at New Orleans’ Fair Grounds as part of an annual equestrian event

Born to run: While they may look clumsy, ostriches are natural runners capable of sprinting in short bursts up to 43 miles per hour

The unusual contest that sent hearts aflutter on the Fair Ground stands was held as part of a 12-day equestrian event for quarter horses – a unique breed of animals noted for their smaller stature that specialize in sprinting short distances, the NOLA Defender reported.

All of the jockeys who had ridden horses throughout the afternoon on Saturday opted for an emu-sing end of the day show and proved they could ride anything by mounting ostriches.

Organizers of the annual quarter horse race, which opened on August 15, brought ostriches and camels into the mix to make this year’s event extra special for families and kids.

Let the games begin! The unusual contest was held as part of a 12-day equestrian event for quarter horses

What’s in a name? Among the winged competitors were ‘Feather Duster,’ ‘I’ll Hatch Another,’ ‘Nom De Plumage,’ and ‘She’s Got Legs’

Although the ostrich is the largest and heaviest living bird, do not be fooled by its less than statuesque figure: the critter was born to run.

According to information from the San Diego Zoo, the ostrich’s long, thick, and powerful legs can cover great distances without much effort, and its feet have only two toes for greater speed.

Ostriches can sprint in short bursts up to 43 miles per hour, and they can maintain a steady speed of 31 miles per hour.

Day at the races: Organizers of the 12-day equestrian racing event added ostriches into the mix to make the experience extra special for the spectators

 

Who’s the ostrich here? A spectator at Fair Grounds sporting a fancy hat in honor of the feathered racers

For comparison, a quarter horse is able to run at speeds up to 55 miles per hour, traveling a quarter mile in less than 21 seconds,

Just one of an ostrich’s strides can be 10 to 16 feet long, and one kick of their clawed foot is powerful enough to kill a lion.

While ostrich-racing is far from a mainstream sport awash in endorsement deals and ESPN specials, the practice is common in Africa, where the flightless birds are ridden in the same way as horses, with special saddles and reins.

Fowl team: ‘Don’t Call Me Emu’ ridden by jockey Jeff Jerman came first in the race

Winner’s circle: ‘Don’t Call Me Emu’ with jockey Jeff Jerman are celebrating their victory in the race

Jacks of all trade: All of the jockeys who had raced horses throughout the afternoon mounted ostriches to prove that they can ride anything

In the U.S., people who wish to take in an ostrich race can travel to Jacksonville, Florida, where a popular tourist attraction called the Ostrich Farm in operation since 1892 stages competitions.

The town of Chandler, Arizona hosts the annual Ostrich Festival which also features ostrich races, and similar events have been held elsewhere in the country, including in Kentucky, Iowa and Nevada.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2190762/Birds-feather-RACE-Ostriches-run-glory-splitting-competition.html#ixzz2431xmbxO