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Erin go Braugh through the years

FILE PHOTO

FILE PHOTO

Irish Pigstakes

Northwest of Edmonton, a different type of squealing could be heard on St. Patrick’s Day in 1969.

The first annual Irish Pigstakes took place in Peace River, with dyed green porkers hoofing it down main street. The idea of two businessmen who were arguing who had the fastest pig, the event grew to include entries from local residents and businesses, including a group of Alberta Government Telephones employees and the Lions’ club. First place went to the Masons’ entry, who was dyed a vivid green. Best dressed was awarded to Green George, a 200-pound sow.

Photo by Thom_Morris / Getty Images/iStockphoto

All sorts of antics were recorded that day, such as the Kinsmen’s pig being disqualified for stopping at a local pub and a much-touted Hungarian boar that ran away and was not seen again. The High Prairie Chamber of Commerce’s entry was held by custom officials in New York after being purchased from South Africa.

The pigs ran again the following year, with 5,000 people packing the street to witness the event.

“The moment NAR general manager Ken Perry fired the starting gun there was panic in the street and pigs everywhere,” wrote Journal reporter Gordon Aalborg.

Some Journal readers were outraged over the race.

“On March 17 (1970) I attended the pig races which were held on the main street of Peace River. I was shocked at what the dignitaries of the town call entertainment,” wrote one reader. “Pigs are known as animals of low intelligence, but many people were wondering which had the lowest mentality, the pig or the so-called humans who were seen so cruelly jabbing these animals with sticks, kicking them, and dragging them, bleeding, down the street to the finish line.