Goat Racing

An annual goat racing event takes place in Pennsylvania, Falmouth, in the Lancaster County.  This big event raises funds for the civic association of Falmouth to provide money for the New Year’s Eve festivities and the most outstanding citizen of the year banquet. 

The goat racing event attracts both young and old because there are fun things to do for everyone.  The organizers of the event provide plenty of sweet goodies and yummy food to keep participants in the games. 

One of the games in this event is a tobacco spitting contest.  The adult competitors stand at a predetermined distance from a hot stove top.  The competitor spits a long line of tobacco juice in an attempt to hit the stovetop.  The winner is the one who spits the closest to the stovetop.  There is also a distance category. 

The younger contestants are included in this game.  The children spit Tootsie Roll juice instead of tobacco at a stovetop.  The person whose spit get closest to the stovetop is the winner.  There is plenty of good greasy food to eat and games and treats for the kids. 

The goat races date back many years to some residents who were sitting out front of the Village Store, chatting as idle men do.  One of the residents, John Devaney, had lost considerably at the horse race tracks.  Glen Hipple, another resident, suggested that John bet on goats since every family in the village had them.  This began what is now an event that attracts goat racers from miles around to try their luck at goat racing.  Goat rentals are available to those who decide at the last minute to enter the race.