New Zealanders Wild & Wooly About Sheep Racing

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 8, 2009 4:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – A crowd of thousands is expected in a New Zealand town this weekend to watch teams of trained sheep race through the streets, the Telegraph reports. The organizer has been stunned by the nation's massive interest in the new sport of sheep racing and in his flock, the "Racing Baa Blacks." He refuses to divulge how he trained the woolly thoroughbreds to race.

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On your marks, get set ... (AP Photo/NZPA,John Cowpland)

With sheep outnumbering people ten to one, many expect sheep racing to have a bright future in New Zealand. (Shutter Stock)

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I'm starting to get inquiries to take my flock all over New Zealand. We ran a day-time event earlier this year and 5,000 people turned up. We're starting to take bookings three years in advance. - Sheep race organizer David Cone

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