Derby darlings

The evening of the first Saturday in May might belong to horses, but that day was reserved for critters of a smaller stature.

The fourth annual Chihuahua Races were held in Norwood while a Hedgehog Fest was held for the first time in Walpole.

The fastest two seconds in sport took place on a 35-foot track in the packed Petco parking lot off Rte. 1 beginning at 10 a.m. Over 200 Chihuahuas competed in 10 heats. The first- and second-place finishers in each heat earned a spot in the semifinals.

The winner of each of the four semifinals then competed in a final race with the winner receiving a trip to San Diego to race in the national competition to represent the Boston region against 14 other regional champions.

Ultimately, it was Cuppycakes, an 8-month-old Chihuahua from Mashpee, who came out victorious.

"She did great," said Elizabeth Estlick standing with her husband, William, at the podium. "She's a good girl."

The Estlicks didn't train Cuppycakes for the competition, per se, but the Chihuahua does have experience running hundreds of yards to her owners on Cape Cod beaches, she said.

"We both have an incredible bond with her," Elizabeth said. Their strategy was William would hold Cuppycakes up before putting her in the starting box so she could see Elizabeth waiting at the finish line. It didn't hurt that Elizabeth wielded the dog's favorite toy - a neon green snowman she received for Christmas.

What it comes down to, the Estlicks said, is Cuppycakes is "really quite fast."

If there was a favorite in the event, it would have had to be Minnie, the returning Boston regional champion. Minnie won her race heat convincingly to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Niki, Minnie's daughter, came in second in the same race.

The dogs' owner, Joe Escaler, of Seekonk, who built a mock starting box and course for his dogs, was confident going into the semis, but neither dog was able to make it to the finals.

Tom Lavonte, the head referee and emcee, regarded the defeat as a monumental upset.

"There's always next year," he said, reassuring all disappointed dogs and owners.

Between races, Lavonte regaled spectators with jokes, banter and trivia questions as songs like Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" and "Chihuahua" by DJ Bobo played over the loudspeakers.

Perhaps the long-shot winner of the first races, on a cold, drizzly day, was Sunny the Snail.

When they weren't racing, many dogs found warmth on the 45-degree day in the jackets of their owners, while others wore sweaters or T-shirts.

About three miles to the west in Walpole, a new tradition began - Hedgehog Fest.

The festival, at the Norfolk County Agricultural School on Rte. 1A, offered hedgehog shows, information and Olympics.

Nearly 50 hedgehogs competed for "Best in Show" with Antigone Means judging.

Means said she judged the hedgehogs primarily on demeanor. The animals should be easy to play with, and they should not be afraid. As far as aesthetics are concerned, she looks for form and flow. The hedgehog should be almost "aerodynamic," she said laughing. The animal should be shaped like a tear drop - a short, wide face with a filled out behind.

Means flew in from Kansas just to judge the show. She said she became interested in hedgehogs when she first saw one while studying abroad in Germany in 1995 - hedgehogs are native only to Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. She then began to raise, sell and share her knowledge about hedgehogs.

Kelly Sosik-Hamor of Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs in Pelham, N.H. ran the event. They were looking to have a festivals in an area where there's a lack of hedgehog shows, while the Aggie school was looking to host such an event.

Breeders gave the school a hedgehog for hosting.

"We got a hedgehog out of it and they got a place to have Hedgehog Fest," said Paulina Brunelle, an Aggie freshman.

She, Victoria Denneno and Jess O'Toole, hosted the Hedgehog Olympics. There were four games in total - a timed race, a cacti obstacle course, a hunt for bug stickers and Hedgehog Bowling.

Most hedgehogs weren't as successful as their famous hedgehog brother, Sonic, may have been, but races were completed, cacti was knocked over, bugs were discovered and two strikes were made.

Sosik-Hamor spent about three weeks coming up with the games, she said, although several people did suggest Hedgehog bowling "I think mostly as a joke."

Sosik-Hamor said hedgehogs are great pets to have for those looking for a small animal that doesn't take much looking after. They are similar to owning a guinea pig, she said. Hedgehogs are very people-friendly, said Sosik-Hamor, especially if they are purchased from a breeder, under whose care hedgehogs have the chance to socialize with other animals.