Calla Cup Corgi Races at PetFest!
In honor of Calla, the beloved corgi of Linda Southern-Heathcott, we are excited to introduce the Calla Cup! Calla made a memorable appearance in last year’s senior division, stealing hearts as she crossed the finish line with a little extra help.
- Date: Friday, April 11th
- Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Check-in starts at 6:15 PM)
- Location: Spruce Meadows, Riding Hall & Equiplex
The Calgary Corgi Cup Rules
To keep the races fun, safe, and smooth for everyone (both human and furry), please follow these simple guidelines. A little teamwork and good sportsmanship go a long way. Let’s make this an awesome event for all!
- All dogs must be on a leash at all times (except for the race!)
- Owner is responsible for their dog at all times, including cleaning up after their dog.
- Dog owners must follow the instructions of ALL venues and information provided to them
- Dog owners must complete all registration forms and waivers
- Be Helpful! We SO appreciate it!
- If another corgi parent needs help with being an anchor or lead, or needs you to help with holding their second dog while their first one races, please be awesome and help out!
- Sometimes we need to play catch after a race. If a corgi is running by and trying to escape, please grab them if you can. Corgi parents sure appreciate it!
- DO NOT release your dog early. We have watchers at the start of the race and we will redo the race if need be. People get pretty cranky if we have to redo… especially when it’s hot, so don’t do that and be a good sport!
Ready, Set, Zoom!
Bring your corgi and join the fun! Let them dash, wiggle, and race their way to glory while you cheer them on. Don’t miss out—sign up now and let the corgi chaos begin!
Important Info for Racers
Check-in starts at 6:15 PM in the Riding Hall (back entrance). The door is located just beneath the word “SHOP”.
Please do not arrive early, as the space will only be available at 6:00 PM. The Riding Hall is our dedicated space for corgis & owners before the race. Here, you’ll receive your heat number, race position, and bandana color.
- Racers must stay in the Riding Hall until race time at 7:00 PM. This will serve as our staging area to keep things organized. We will walk through the hallway to get to the Equiplex for racing.
- Passes for Handlers: Each participating dog will receive two entertainer badges (one for the lead and one for the anchor). These grant you access for race night and allow you to return as a guest for the rest of the weekend (without your fluff butt corgi). Any additional members will pay admission.
- Badges will be available for pickup at the ticket booth—racers must identify themselves to the attendants to receive their badges.
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Parking: Free & available near the competition building (Lot 7 and 8) - Racer Gear: All racers will wear a provided coloured tie and get a tasty dog cookie!
Rules
Please respect event rules to ensure the safety of working dogs & adoptable pups in vendor areas.
Dogs must remain on a leash at all times when not racing for safety and control.
Owners are responsible for picking up after their dogs—let’s keep the space clean!
Outside dogs are not allowed in the main part of the Equi-Plex or Horizons Building, as vendors and working dogs will be present.
Entering the Equiplex: Racers will no longer use the Vendor Door for entry. Instead, we will lead all participants through the hallway from the Riding Hall right before the races.
How the Races Work
Check-In & Heat Assignments
- When you check in, you’ll be assigned a heat number and a raceposition/ colour (at Spruce Meadows only).
- Please remember your heat number and race position/colour, as this helps us keep everything organized!
- Century Downs does not require bandanas or colours. So you will get in order by heat and race position, and wait for your dog’s name to be called when the race starts.
- When you check in, you’ll be assigned a heat number and a raceposition/ colour (at Spruce Meadows only).
- Please remember your heat number and race position/colour, as this helps us keep everything organized!
Lining Up for Your Race
- Find your heat number sign and line up behind it.
- Arrange yourselves in color order based on what we told you at check-in.
- Every heat will follow this image order
Passing the Bandanas
- After Heat 1 finishes, those racers will pass their bandanas to Heat 3.
- After Heat 2 finishes, those racers will pass their bandanas to Heat 4.
- After Heat 3 finishes, they will pass their bandanas to Heat 5.
- After Heat 4 finishes, they will pass their bandanas to Heat 6, and so on.
This system helps us keep the races running smoothly and ensures each racer has a bandana for identification. Many thanks in advance for helping us make the races fun and fair!
How to get there
The race will take place at Spruce Meadows from April 11 to 13.
- Location: 18011 Spruce Meadows Way SW, Calgary, AB T2X 4B7.
- Free parking for racers is available at Spruce Meadows Parking Lot 7 & 8.
We Need You! Join Us as a Volunteer!
Being part of the Calgary Corgi Racers is more than just fun—it’s about bringing joy to the community and helping our events run smoothly! Our participation in larger events depends on having enough volunteers, so we appreciate your support.
Important Notes:
- Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from events.
- Volunteers can come to all events.
- Some roles require standing for extended periods or quick decision-making.
- No experience needed—we’ll guide you through your role!
- FREE Perk! Volunteers will receive event badges, allowing them to return to PetFest for free all weekend!
Volunteer Roles
- Corgi Wrangler: Help keep corgis and their owners organized before their race, ensuring they are in the correct heat and ready to go.
- Race Start Monitor: Watch the start line to make sure there are no early releases. Give a thumbs up if it’s good or a thumbs down if there’s an issue.
- Videographer: Film the ends of races to capture those exciting photo finishes!
- Check-In Crew: Assist with signing in participants, handing out race materials (bandanas, numbers), and answering questions.
- Announcer Assistant: Relay race results to the announcer and assist with prize distribution.
- Announcer Assistant: Relay race results to the announcer and assist with prize distribution.
- Photographers: Capture adorable race moments for our website.
- Finish Line Judges (3 people): Watch the end of each race and relay the winner to our announcer.
- People Organizer: Ensure racers are in the right spot at the right time before their heat begins.
- Set-Up & Tear-Down Crew: Help with event setup, including fencing, signs, and organizing the staging area. Assist with packing up at the end.