Camel races return to Virginia City

The Virginia City Camel Races are back in town, and that means only one thing: My reign is over.

For a year, I have lived in the perpetual whirlwind of excitement that comes with being inadvertently thrust into the spotlight by winning the Media Grudge Match on Saddam the camel.

True, there were no autographs to sign, nobody approached me in the street, I had no trophy to flaunt ... OK, maybe I didn't find fame.

But as the match approaches, I feel a certain pressure to defend my title.

Last year, I entered just for the fun of it. This year, I return with a purpose: John Potter and the rest of the media, you're going down.

The Media Grudge Match is at 2 p.m. Friday, the official kick-off for a weekend of camel racing.

Potter, a disc jockey on 94.5, The Mountain, radio station and a meteorologist for Channel 2, will enter this year for the first time.

"As embarrassing as it sounds, I'm not that keen on heights," he confessed.

Easy prey.

The Virginia City Camel Races were born out of a spoof in the local newspaper, The Territorial Enterprise, when its editor Bob Richards wrote a fictitious account in 1959.

The following year, he was challenged by the San Francisco Chronicle, which had taken his article seriously.

They leased camels from the San Francisco Zoo and raced down C Street.

The event gained immediate notoriety because Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, who were nearby filming "The Misfits," joined director John Huston for a day at the races.

The San Francisco Chronicle's camel, piloted by Huston, collected the trophy in the first Virginia City Camel Race.

It has since grown to an annual event, featuring participants from around the world racing on camels and ostriches. The world championship is held there every other year.

I may never be a world champion, but come Friday, I intend to defend my title as the premier camel jockey among area journalists.

Schedule of Events

Friday

11 a.m. Educational presentation

11:30 a.m. Several shows daily -- Virginia City Gunfighters, Babylon Babes demonstrations

Food concessions, vendors, petting zoo and VIP tent open

2 p.m. Camel Media Races

6 p.m. Barbecue at the Old Washoe Club

7:30 p.m. Camel Race Kickoff/Sponsor Appreciation Party at the Old Washoe Club with live band, dancing, drawing for placement in the first race

Saturday

11 a.m. Several shows daily -- Mountain Man Living History, gold panning. Virginia City Gunfighters, Babylon Babes demonstrations

Food concessions, vendors, petting zoo, VIP tent open

Noon Grand Parade on C Street

1 p.m. First camel race set begins

3:30 p.m. Second camel race set begins

TBA Chamber of Commerce 1890s Costume Ball at the Old Washoe Club and Delta Saloon

Sunday

11 a.m. Several shows daily -- Mountain Man Living History, Gold Panning Virginia City Gunfighters, Babylon Babes demonstrations

Food concessions, vendors, petting zoo, VIP tent open

Noon: First camel race set begins

1:30 p.m. Second camel race set begins

3:30 p.m. Championship race, followed by presentation of awards