[imagesource: Mark Ralston / Getty]

ESPN, the American cable sports channel, usually features all the updates that a sports fan could want across the major sports, like football, baseball, motorsports, and so on.

You get the idea.

But an unexpected airing on Saturday was a little different, befuddling and delighting sports fans with an episode of Corgi Races.

Yep, that’s right. ESPN, which is used to showing muscular bodies doing sporty things, instead showed the wobble-butts on a couple of corgis who were competing in the annual Corgi Races at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington.

The event took place in late July but was only aired this past weekend. All in all, viewers were ecstatic with the change-up:

Y’all! My Dad just texted me this. They’re actually airing CORGI RACES on @ESPN today. We need more of this and less professional poker and car shows on slow sports days. pic.twitter.com/MDYadWejNQ

— Will Smink (@ThatDMVGinger) August 21, 2021

There are corgi races on ESPN right now. This is like free therapy. pic.twitter.com/atTmc4ETBx

— Will (@willTCradio) August 21, 2021

The endorphin rush that comes from watching a horde of corgi butts racing across the track is free therapy indeed.

Daily Paws has more:

The family-oriented event (no wagering allowed) began in 2017 and was such a smash hit, Emerald Downs made it an annual competition.

Participants are purebred Cardigan Welsh corgis or Pembroke Welsh corgis, and while all entries receive swag, only the top 12 compete in the championship race and then, just one spirited little corgi runner takes home the trophy.

I almost don’t have to mention that last year’s races were on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I’ll do so for good measure.

This year came back with a bang, though, featuring nearly 70 of the short-legged racers.

Watch them strut their stuff like the ‘good boys’ that they are (obviously they are not all boys, but the phrase is so pure it is widely used for all dogs anyway):

After six heats, the little racers get to head off to the championships.

With names like Foxy Roxy, Meeko, Outlands Willow Wisp, Butterbean, Mr Beanz Sir Wiggle Butt, Fonzworth Beckham, and Gravy it is hard to know who to root for.

Nonetheless, the races begin with “Corgis away!” and the little darlings take off as fast as their four little legs can go.

Let the corgi racing begin:

That sure is 11 minutes well spent.

[source:dailypaws]