Some of the fastest little canines with short legs raced for victory at Scotland’s annual Corgi Derby. The event, held at Musselburgh Racecourse, started in 2022 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. The late queen was a huge corgi lover, having owned nearly 30 of the breed over the years, along with a few dorgis, a mix of corgi and dachshund.
On Saturday, four-year-old Juno triumphed over a competitive field of 16 dogs dressed in colorful sweaters, finishing first in the 230-foot (70-meter) race just outside Edinburgh. She made a dramatic comeback in the final stretch to beat last year’s winner, Rodney.
Juno’s owners, Alisdair Tew and Fran Brandon, were awarded a trophy and dog treats by Judy Murray, a tennis coach and mother of Scottish tennis star Andy Murray.
Tew shared that they had trained Juno for the race last year, but this time they let her chase seagulls at Edinburgh’s Portobello Beach instead. “Juno is always ready for treats—that’s probably why she won,” he joked.
The queen’s affection for corgis began in 1933 when her father, King George VI, brought home a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Dookie. Over the decades, corgis remained by her side, often accompanying her on official duties. At Buckingham Palace, the dogs reportedly had their own room and were known for occasionally nipping at visitors’ ankles or family members.
The queen’s corgis even had a moment of fame during the 2012 London Olympics when they appeared in a comedic video as she climbed into a helicopter with James Bond.
