If slow and steady wins the race, what if they're all slow?

  • Local children watch as the Terrapin Races begin with a crawl. Gary Jackson • The Madill Record
    Local children watch as the Terrapin Races begin with a crawl. Gary Jackson • The Madill Record

The slowest race in Marshall County happened at the National Sand Bass Festival on June 9, 10 and 11. This annual event, known as the Terrapin Races, was held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Children are encouraged to gather turtles and decorated the turtle shells in hopes of winning a prize for having the fastest turtle.

The race officials suggest that turtle shells are decorated with non toxic decorations and stickers. Once the race is done, the turtles are released back into nature.

Dangerous turtles like snapping turtles are not allowed to be entered. This is to ensure nobody is injured.

Winning turtles had the opportunity to compete again in more races.

On Thursday, over 40 kids showed up to race their turtles. As with almost any race, winners won prizes. This year’s prizes consisted of toys, goodie bags and bicycles.

There were 10 rounds of turtle races. The winners of Thursday’s races were Riley Cobb, A.J. Gamble, Taylor Komolty, Cheyenne Mullins, Kyler Mayberry, Madison Woolae, and Roger Wingfeid.