Peace, Love, & Rats 39th Annual Running of the Rodents
WHAT: Spalding University hosts its 39th Annual Running of the Rodents themed, “Peace, Love, & Rats.” Currently nine rodents named after singers and songwriters of the ’60s including Carlos Ratana, Marley, and Joplin will compete for the coveted garland of fruit-flavored cereal-o’s as they speed around a miniature racetrack—.024 furlongs in length and created by Spalding alumna and former Rat Queen Madonna Wilson. The rodents are trained by teams of Spalding students, staff, and faculty.
Local news personalities Barry Bernson of Fox 41 and Dawn Gee of WAVE 3 will emcee the races. Steve Buttleman – official bugler of Churchill Downs will announce each race with the traditional call to the post.
A public parade complete with floats and decorated vehicles will precede the Running of the Rodents. Parade participants will be dressed in tie dye t-shirts and other 1960s attire to mimic a peace protest. Lunch (cash-only) will be provided following race day festivities in the University Center Ballroom, 824 South Fourth Street.
Special events taking place earlier during “Rat Week” include a penny war, a t-shirt tie dye party, a cereal eating competition, and a hippie nonsense day that includes tug-of-war, water balloon tag, and a pie fight.
WHO: Rodents named for 1960s singers and songwriters and trained by teams from the Spalding community.
WHEN: April 14, 2010
Rat Parade at 11:30 a.m.; Rat Races to follow.
WHERE: Rat Parade- Route along 3rd &4th Streets in downtown Louisville, KY
Rat Races- Spalding University Center Building Ballroom a.k.a. “Spalding Downs,” 824 South Fourth Street
Parking is free in all Spalding University lots.
WHY: When Spalding University’s former professor Sister Julia Clare Fontaine overheard a senior complain about the “rat race” of finals week, she immediately had an idea for a stress reliever before spring session final exams. Since 1973, the Running of the Rodents has been a fun-filled Louisville tradition. Coined as “The Most Exciting Two Seconds in Sports” by Trivial Pursuit® after 1987′s Deep Throat won the Rodent Derby in 1.8 seconds, Spalding University’s annual rat race serves as both a stress reducer and a unique method of teaching students about animal care as well as behavior modification techniques.
