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WORTHINGTON — In a startling show of athleticism not often seen in birds, Cuero, Texas’ rival Ruby Begonia crossed the finish line during the 50th Great Gobbler Gallop just seconds before Worthington’s Paycheck.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a race that close!” proclaimed Gov. Tim Walz, who crossed the finish alongside the turkey race teams from Cuero and Worthington, having joined in for the 50th anniversary of the Turkey Race.
“We had a little time there when the bird wanted to stop and go shopping,” said Worthington Turkey Day Coach Doug Tate, speaking of Paycheck’s pit-stop into the crowd outside of Main Street Kids. Onlookers cheered — and scrambled to give the Worthington bird space — as the team members attempted to get Paycheck back on track.
"We did really well. We got a fast start," Tate added. "I think Paycheck got a little overconfident and wanted to sit in a chair for a little while. We got him off the chair and he ran hard all the way the rest of it. We thought we were gonna overtake 'em there but he got a little — well he ran by my parents and wanted to say hi there.”
Though he made up for lost time during the home stretch of the race, it wasn’t enough for Paycheck to match Ruby Begonia’s steady trot down the left-hand side of Main Street, as the Cuero race team herded her dutifully towards the finish line, and to victory.
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Finishing with an astonishing one minute and 23.15 seconds, with no penalties, Ruby Begonia truly embodied a steadiness to be admired in any winning bird during this year's race.
"We're good," said Joel Hilburn, captain of Team Ruby Begonia, who said he was not surprised by Ruby's victory. "It went great."
Though Paycheck crossed the finish line not even a full second behind Ruby Begonia, coming in at one minute and 24.15 seconds, he did accrue one five-second penalty. Paycheck’s official race time was recorded as one minute and 29.15 seconds.
“[He] came in hard with a good sprint at the end there,” said Turkey Handler Genny McCuen. “I think we’ll catch ‘em in Cuero.”
The Worthington turkey team will make the trip down to Cuero for an Oct. 8 race, where Ruby and Paycheck will again face off during the second heat of the Great Gobbler Gallup — and as everyone knows, it ain’t over till October.
