2018 Montgomery Turkey Trot, (Sept. 6-9)
Rains Cancel Out Most Events for the Turkey Trot!

On Thursday Night (Sept 6), we were able to get the races run but not on the track. The track was too wet. The Turkey Races were moved to the grassy area on the north side of the track. Yes it was misting rain during the races but we got them in. The Tractor Pulls did go off as planned as well as the Bingo in the Ruritan Building but it was a slow night.

On Friday Night (Sept. 7), The Turkey Races were once again moved to the grassy area north of the Track and was able to get all the heats in. The entertainment (High Valley) scheduled for the Main Stage did go on in spite of the light rain that came down most of the evening. The music was very good and a few dedicated fans sat thru the rain to listen to the music. It was a slow evening and not much of a crowd and later that Friday night the Rains came and continued all day on Saturday.

On Saturday (Sept. 8), The only events to take place on Saturday were Mud Volleyball and the Horse Pulls. The Mud Volleyball had plenty of water in the pit as the rains kept up all day. The Horse Pulls had already been scheduled to be moved to the Dinky Center on the Odon/Cannelburg Road and a good crowd turned out for that event. However as the rain continued all day it was decided to cancel all the events that would take place that day (Sept. 8) and on Sunday (Sept. 9) as well. This finished all events for the remainder of the Turkey Trot. The Main attraction on the main stage that Saturday night was to be Tracy Lawrence and a huge was expected for that event but if they had tried to bring that crowd in it would have been a mud pit and tore up the parking area. This is the first time in many years and maybe the first time ever that a winning Turkey and Jockey was not crowned at the Turkey Trot.

I do not recall any of the other Turkey Trot Festivals since it began in 1972 where the rains came and disrupted nearly all the events at the Festival. The rain that came the second weekend of September was the spin off from a Hurricane that ravaged Florida just days before. Although it was disappointing with the rain that came our way we have truly been blessed over the years with many successful years in which we had some great weather for our four festival days.