Dachshund Dog Named Mary Poopins Loses Annual Wiener Race — Then She Finds Internet Fame

If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting a dachshund, you may know how wonderfully determined (and feisty) these little pups can be. For dachshund-lovers, it gives us plenty of reasons to be proud! First there was the tiny dachshund who nailed all her new tricks, and now there's Mary Poopins, racer extraordinaire. Mary Poopins raced in a wheelchair, and though she did, in fact, lose the Annual Weiner Race she participated in, the internet still couldn't help but fall in love. Once you watch the video, you'll see why.

A determined dachshund named "Mary Poopins" didn't win this year's annual Emerald Downs Wiener Dog Race in Auburn, Washington — but she won the crowd's hearts. https://t.co/ffhMBOoQd1 pic.twitter.com/nDDLKjkCbH

— ABC News (@ABC) August 27, 2026

Even though Mary Poopins moves in a wheelchair, she not only raced in the Emerald Downs Wiener Race; she shined! ABC News showed Mary Poopins running as fast as she could, proving resilience all the way to the finish line. Even though she didn't win, she reportedly received the biggest applause and quickly became the event's breakout star.

At the end of the race, the official winner — a two-year-old wiener dog, aptly named Dash, and his mom — stood beside Mary and her parents, Brenda and Dave, for more applause. Ever since the big day, Mary's internet has fame continued to rise. One supporter called Mary a "true champion," noting how her completing the race proves that dogs with disabilities are capable of doing amazing things.

The Emerald Downs Wiener Dog Races began in 1997 in Auburn, Washington, and has been going ever since. Said to feature wiener dogs and "wannabees," it attracts loyal participants like Mary Poopin's parents, whose former dachshund's name, Anderson Pooper, may leave you in stitches. However, it turns out there's also a whole world of doxie races all around the United States!

Dachshund runs seem to have fun names like the Running of the Weenies in Germantown, Tennessee, and Weiner Dog Dash in Lincoln, Nebraska. There's also the annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals in Southern California, a race running on its 30th year that raises funds for its local Seal Beach Animal Care Center. Launched in 2023, the Starkville Derby in Mississippi is currently called the world's largest charity wiener dog race, with 300 little doxie racers in the most recent run.

Running can be great exercise for dachshunds. However, their particularly long backs and little legs require some pre-run precautions. Experts recommend starting slow and watching out for any signs of discomfort; good notes for running with a small dog, in general. Now, careful doxie pawrents can find national dachshund races to participate in on sites like Pet My Weiner, or start by learning more from the incredibly-titled 2007 "dogumentary" about wiener races, "Wiener Takes All."