“We used to have camel races and at one time elephant races,” said Jim Criss,

Canfield Harness Horsemen Association president.

The dog races and competitions were recorded as far back as 100 years ago.

In 1925, the fair’s big attraction was a huge dog show that “featured canines of all kinds,” according to information from the fair archives. Today, the popular Mahoning Valley Cluster dog show features a combination of dog clubs in the country’s second largest dog show.

Today the Canfield wiener dog races are part of a nine Ohio fairs circuit. At Canfield, a professional-looking starting gate was added. (File photo)

On the race track, dogs have come a long way as well. Records show that 5,000 people attended a dog racing program at the fairgrounds on July 3, 1934, when the greyhounds were racing. Betting on the dogs became a big thing, and the 1934 race boasted a payout of $39.40 on a $2 ticket.

A little over two weeks after that race, on July 19, 1934, over 6,500 attended the dog races and helped raise $2,580 for the St. Elizabeth and Youngstown hospitals.

According to the 1934 records, betting was illegal at the time and Sheriff W.J. Englehardt was making arrests for gambling. The Canfield Kennel Club attempted to have a court stop the sheriff from making the arrest, but after the courts refused an injunction, the club closed the race track.

The dog races continued during the fair that year and saw 10,000 in the stands.

In 1935, betting was prohibited so in 1936, puppies were raced for amusement.

Wiener dog racing started five years ago during the harness racing at the fair. It started as a simple way to let the dog go and race across the front of the grandstand track. (File photo)

Now, after 90 years, dog racing has returned to the Canfield Fair, but with a different twist, or size. In 2021, the fair introduced wiener dog racing.

“Dog racing was an idea to get people into the stands to watch the harness racing,” said Fair Director Elwood Woolman. “In harness racing there is normally 20 minutes between races and to keep people entertained, we brought in live music and the wiener dogs.”

He said wiener dog racing has grown across the country and after seeing how it attracted crowds, Woolman knew it was perfect for the fair harness races.

“We started it five years ago and now it has become a circuit event with nine other Ohio fairs taking part,” Woolman said. “For Canfield, it brings a whole new crowd into the grandstands.”

The wiener dogs have their own custom-made starting gate and wear numbers similar to horse racing.

The Canfield Fair is not a new venue for dog racing, as this program from 1935 suggests. During the mid 1930s, greyhounds were raced at the Fairgrounds and many arrests were made of people caught placing bets on the dogs. In Ohio it is illegal to bet on dog races, a law that continues today. (File photo)

The racing in this year’s fair will take place during the harness racing on Saturday around 2 p.m. The first 39 dogs to register will compete and last year’s champion is automatically entered.

“For the future, I am searching for a large blow up wiener dog,” Woolman said. “I think I found one from China.”

He also mentioned he is considering adding a Corgi race in 2026.

Betting on dog racing is still prohibited in Ohio. So, the wiener dog races are just for entertainment as far as the crowd is concerned.