The Underground World of Australian Cockroach Racing

Cockroach
© justinbaeder

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It started in a parking garage.

Two men had been arguing all night about their roaches. Drunk and Australian, they decided that the only way to determine who truly possessed ”˜the fastest roaches in Brisbane’ was to retreat to a local parking garage. To the cheering of inebriated fans, they held a race. No one really remembers who won.

This is how cockroach racing was born. Every year, in a glorious feat of Australian absurdity, roaches are now raced to the cheers of thousands. The roaches are actually introduced, as at a boxing match, until a bin of them is overturned in the middle of a circle. And at the signal, the box is raised, and these panicked pests make a break for it.

The way that Australians figure it, the cockroaches are just as much a part of their culture as kangaroos or koalas – maybe even more so. At least with roaches, everybody has one. And besides, a cockroach race is a good excuse to drink. It is, therefore, a brilliant idea.

Performance-enhancers like coffee, sugar and wine are banned. And anyone who argues with the rules is deemed simply, ”˜Not very Australian at all.’

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