WORTHINGTON - The town of Worthington hollered and cheered - some even gobbled - as Paycheck crossed the finish line at Saturday’s King Turkey Day.
With a time of 1:34.97 seconds, Worthington’s turkey, Paycheck, won the first heat of the Great Gobbler Gallop. His competitor, Ruby Begonia from Cuero, Texas, finished with a time of 1:36.09.
“That was the closest race I’ve ever seen,” U.S. Rep. Tim Walz said. “What a great race.”
Neither team received any penalties.
The competition with the fowl foes will continue during Cuero’s festival, Turkeyfest, on the second Saturday of October. The times from both races will be then added together to determine the winner of this year’s race.
Worthington KTD race team coach Susanne Murphy was thrilled with the results.
“It went absolutely perfect,” Murphy said. “Our training paid off.”
Although Ruby lost the first heat, Cuero team captain Michael Ruschhaupt isn’t worried about losing the three-year winning streak that Cuero currently has.
“We are still feeling good,” Ruschhaupt said. “It was only a one-second loss. That’s the kind of time you can easily make up during the second heat of the race.”
Cuero fans yelled, “It ain’t over ’til October,” and that’s the truth.
Until then, Great Gobbler Gallops fans won’t be certain which feathered competitor will take home the Traveling Trophy of Tumultuous Triumph and be named the Turkey Capital of the World.
