Pups hoping to be crowned top dog at annual Corgi Derby

A GROUP of Corgis are set to battle it out to be crowned top dog at the fourth annual Musselburgh Racecourse Corgi Derby.

Two previous champions will be among the 17 runners that will race the 70 metre track on Easter Saturday.

Tennis coach and former Strictly Come Dancing star Judy Murray will be there to raise the starting flag.

(Image: Musselburgh Racecourse) All eyes will be on Rodney (below), the 2023 Champion Corgi who is described by owners Matt Kendall and Nicole Whiteside as “always hungry, always smiling”.

Rodney  (Image: Jess Shurte) Rodney will have tough competition in the form of Georgie Rumbles, who took home the top prize in 2022.

The four-year-old Welsh Corgi is said to be “full of lots of mischief” by owner Alison Rumbles, but it remains to be seen if she can cause enough upset to reclaim the crown.

Local interest will be with Honest Toun entry Merlin, who can often be found patrolling the lagoons which sit next to the racecourse.

Merlin  (Image: Musselburgh Racecourse) Merlin’s owners Sam Benson and Andrew Marks described the pup as a “shameless flirt”, adding that his biggest challenge will be “resisting telling off the other racers for having too much fun”.

North Yorkshire-based Chester Barkington will travel across the border in hopes of winning the race.

Owners Rhiannon Lister and Mike Kilroy said Barkington, who will don red colours, “enjoys sampling foods of the land and diving into any water source”.

A dark horse contender could be Nash, who is described by her owner Thomas Wilson as “a zoomy wee legend who is incredibly fast and always smiling”.

Nash  (Image: Musselburgh Racecourse) Pennybun will also be running with the pack, however, her owner says victory may be a “long shot”.

Xander Elliards admits the two-and-a-half year old pup resembles the plump little mushroom after which she is named.

He added that despite intensive training with her long-suffering Golden Retriever sister Dilly-dally, “enthusiasm is guaranteed but Derby victory may be a long shot”.

Musselburgh Racecourse head of Marketing and Business Development, Aisling Johnston, said racing and dog fans would be “barking mad” to miss the unique event.

“Just like the equine entries in our seven flat races on Virgin Bet Easter Saturday, our famous Corgi Derby has attracted a top class field and leading trainers from all over the UK,” she said.

“It may be only 1/3 of a furlong in distance but our 17 corgis will be going to great lengths to be crowned Champion Corgi and racing and dog fans alike would be barking mad to miss out on this unique event.”

(Image: Musselburgh Racecourse) The Corgi Derby is off at noon and will be run in front of Musselburgh Racecourse’s historic grandstand.

The After-Racing Party, open to all race goers, will be hosted by Forth One evening show host Callum Gallacher on the decks for one hour after the last race.

Gates to the event open at 11.30am with the first and last races scheduled for 1.50pm and 5.17pm, respectively.