Ruby Begonia ready for rematch after slow start

Ruby Begonia trotted a little too slow at the King Turkey Day Great Gobbler Gallop in Worthington, Minn., Saturday, Sept. 13.

Ruby Begonia’s time with two penalties came in at one minute and 40.08 seconds, more than a minute behind her swifter opponent Paycheck’s 33.93 seconds with only one penalty.

Cuero Turkeyfest race team member Sherry Oakes said Ruby Begonia seemed more interested in the spectators who were watching the race than in running. Meanwhile, Paycheck apparently ignored her townspeople and charged forward. A motivated turkey can run at 25 mph.

“Ruby was checking out all of the people and having a grand time playing with the people,” Oakes said.

When asked about the weather conditions for the race, Oakes said the 35 CTF delegates who traveled to Minnesota were shocked to discover 100-degree heat upon their arrival.

“It was hotter than in Cuero,” Oakes said. “It’s usually cooler, but not this year. We had a heat wave in Minnesota.”

However, Oakes declined to blame Ruby Begonia’s loss on the heat — she is after all a Texas native.

“She was just not focused,” Oakes said. “I think she is probably upset about it now.”

Oakes said the wings of the turkeys are trimmed, but they still can take to the air about five-feet up and go every which way when the excitement gets to them Oakes noted that the Minnesota race was just the first heat of the competition, and the final winner will be determined at the second heat of the Great Gobbler Gallop at the 53rd Annual Turkeyfest in Cuero Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10:30 a.m.

The total times of the two heats will be calculated to determine the winner of the 2025 Turkey Capital of the World title. Cureo’s Turkeyfest Parade will follow the race.

“We are so ready,” said Oakes, who added that Cureo took the trophy in 2024 and no one wants to give it up now. “We can make up that minute. It’s not over til October.”