Wiener Dogs zoom to the finish line at this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival

Blink and you might miss her — Chili the 5 year old wiener dog is a blur of brown fur on tiny legs as she zips towards the finish line.

The Wiener Dog Race has been a staple of Macon’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival since 2019. This year it will be held on Cherry Street March 22 at noon.

Chili won the last two consecutive years. This year marks her fourth time participating. Her owner, Macon native Brian Rocker, is hoping for a three-peat.

His champion racing dog weighs just 10 pounds, but with her lightning-fast paws, Chili is the Usain Bark of dachshunds.

“She just hauls tail,” Rocker said. 

At the upcoming race, Rocker’s girlfriend will put Chili at the starting line and Rocker will be waiting at the finish, squeaky toy in hand.

She’s always loved to run and fetch her squeaky toys, he said, and these annual races have proven that the furry little lowrider has a competitive streak.

“I didn’t know what to think,” he recalled of the first time he entered Chili in the race. “I was like, ‘I’m hoping she’ll just run.’”

Rocker, who had a wiener dog growing up, adopted Chili when she was 1 year old. She has been the star of the family ever since.

Her first place trophies are proudly displayed in Rocker’s living room and dachshund-themed statues and pillows adorn the space. 

Chili’s racing wins make her a four-legged celebrity around Macon too. After finishing a race, Rocker said kids recognize Chili and want pictures with her while out for lunch downtown.

He even took her on the road and entered a Weenie Dog Race at a strawberry festival. 

Rocker believes Chili can secure the“Fastest Wiener Dog in Middle Georgia” title for the third-straight year and they’ve been practicing at home to prepare for the big race.

But only time will tell if Chili will be this year’s first place “wiener.”