Pig Races

A "coach" and his piglet Pafnuty celebrate a victory in a pig race in Moscow, Saturday, June 4, 2005. Pig races and also the country's first 'pigball' championship were organised by a group of fans from the Federation of Sportive Pig-breeding. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)

Misha Japaridze, AP

Piglet Pafnuty eats carrots beside a trophy it won in pig races in Moscow, Sunday, June 5, 2005. Pig races and the country's first "pig-ball" championship are staged as part of an agricultural exhibition on Moscow's outskirts and organised by a group of fans from the Federation of Sportive Pig-breeding. The winning piglets receive a trophy for their efforts, and a trough of mashed carrots.

Misha Japaridze, AP

Piglet Taliya is held on the podium after she became the absolute winner of pig races in Moscow, March 20, 2004. It was the first competition since 1898 in Russia, when piglet derbies were quite popular with the public. Organizers say they have changed the rules and the winner is not eaten straight after the finish.

Ivan Sekretarev, AP

Contestants in the Mayfield Agricultural and Pastu... NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 10: Contestants in the Mayfield Agricultural and Pastural (AP) show pig races sprint out of the start gate towards the first tire tunnel, in race four of the 11th annual pig race contest held at Mayfield on the Canterbury plains, 60km from Christchurch. Christchurch, Show, Gate, Outs, Canterbury, Pig, Start, Race, Rivalry, Tunnel, Plain, New Zealand, Tire, Holiday, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Annual, Hold, Sprint, Contestant.

Ross Land, Getty Images

Spectators watch the start of a traditional pig race at the Swiss agriculture fair OLMA 98 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, on Friday, October 9, 1998.

Regina Kuehne, AP

Melbourne, AUSTRALIA: A pig dives into a pool at the Royal Melbourne Show in Melbourne, 26 September 2006. The show bring the best of rural life to the city with wood chopping, show jumping, the best cows, sheep, cattle, dogs, cats and poultry in show with children able to get up close to the animals as well as wild rides for the kids. AFP PHOTO/William WEST

William West, AFP / Getty Images

The crowd cheers as Rosaire's Royal Racers racing pigs sprint around the racetrack at the Tunbridge World's Fair in Tunbridge, Vt., Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.

Alden Pellett, AP

Moscow, RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Two owners of piglets hurry their sportsmen as they swim at the third "Pig Olympic Games" in Moscow, 16 April 2006. Piglets from seven countries compete in svinball (pigball), swimming and running. AFP PHOTO / TATYANA MAKEYEVA (Photo credit should read TATYANA MAKEYEVA/AFP/Getty Images)

Tatyana Makeyeva, AFP / Getty Images

The winner of the pig race, piglet Taliya, eats her prize, carrots and cream, during the awards ceremony following a pig race in Moscow, March 21, 2004. It was the first competition since 1898 in Russia, when piglet derbies were quite popular with the public. Organizers say they have changed the rules and the winner is not eaten straight after the finish.

Ivan Sekretarev, AP

Moscow, RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Two piglets swimm during the third "Pig Olympic Games" in Moscow, 15 April 2006. Piglets from seven countries compete in svinball (pigball), swimming and running. AFP PHOTO / TATYANA MAKEYEVA

Tatyana Makeyeva, AFP / Getty Images