Mouse racing
Encyclopedia
Mouse racing is an activity in which live rodent
s are coaxed to travel through a miniature racecourse at fast speeds. The races generally take place at tavern
s, fair
s, or fund-raising events and are popular in several countries. Mouse racing has also attracted criticism from animal rights
groups, who believe the activity is too stressful for the mice.
track, while others are more like obstacle course
s, with wheels and other challenges. In 1940s England
, mice were sometimes made to propel miniature boats by running on treadmill
s, which were connected to the boat's paddle-wheels.
In many contemporary races, an individual mouse trainer organizes the event using his own animals and invites spectators to make bets
, with the proceeds often going to some specific cause. In the United States
, one of the most well-known charity-race organizers was Harvey Coffee. He organized events throughout the American Midwest and was mentioned in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
.
The famous World War II movie, Stalag 17
, features a scene with mouse racing in a barracks.
More competitive versions of the activity have existed; for example, a Western Australia
Mouse Racing Association was founded in the 1970s to organize competitions among mouse owners, who trained their pets to break speed records. Australia continues to hold a national Mouse Cup in rural Bylong
, which attracts about 800 participants. Rat
s are explicitly banned at the more competitive mouse races.
criticized mouse races at local taverns, noting that the often-loud audiences could frighten the mice with their cheering. However, one race manager replied, "If they can't take a joke in the world, then what's wrong with them?".
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s are coaxed to travel through a miniature racecourse at fast speeds. The races generally take place at tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
s, fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s, or fund-raising events and are popular in several countries. Mouse racing has also attracted criticism from animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
groups, who believe the activity is too stressful for the mice.
Variations
There are several different types of mouse races. Some races use elaborate sets built to resemble a horse racingHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track, while others are more like obstacle course
Obstacle course
An obstacle course is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual or team must navigate usually while being timed. Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balancing elements with the aim of testing speed and endurance. Sometimes a course...
s, with wheels and other challenges. In 1940s England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, mice were sometimes made to propel miniature boats by running on treadmill
Treadmill
A treadmill is an exercise machine for running or walking while staying in one place. The word treadmill traditionally refers to a type of mill which was operated by a person or animal treading steps of a wheel to grind grain...
s, which were connected to the boat's paddle-wheels.
In many contemporary races, an individual mouse trainer organizes the event using his own animals and invites spectators to make bets
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
, with the proceeds often going to some specific cause. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, one of the most well-known charity-race organizers was Harvey Coffee. He organized events throughout the American Midwest and was mentioned in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
.
The famous World War II movie, Stalag 17
Stalag 17
Stalag 17 is a 1953 war film which tells the story of a group of American airmen held in a German World War II prisoner of war camp, who come to suspect that one of their number is a traitor...
, features a scene with mouse racing in a barracks.
More competitive versions of the activity have existed; for example, a Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
Mouse Racing Association was founded in the 1970s to organize competitions among mouse owners, who trained their pets to break speed records. Australia continues to hold a national Mouse Cup in rural Bylong
Bylong, New South Wales
Bylong is a village in New South Wales, Australia, in the Mid-Western Regional Council. It is located on the Bylong Valley Way.The area is home to numerous horse studs...
, which attracts about 800 participants. Rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s are explicitly banned at the more competitive mouse races.
Criticism
Mouse racing has received criticism from animal rights groups since the 1940s, when the RSPCA condemned the English aquatic races. They declared, "Anyone who knows about boys will know that [...] the mice will be prodded unmercifully to ginger them up". An advocate of the activity replied in defense, "No cruelty is imposed on the creature since experience shows that mice derive much enjoyment from their wheel turning activity". More recently, animal rights societies in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
criticized mouse races at local taverns, noting that the often-loud audiences could frighten the mice with their cheering. However, one race manager replied, "If they can't take a joke in the world, then what's wrong with them?".
External links
- Picture of Harvey Coffee, prominent American mouse-racer