For Worthington, Minnesota - "Paycheck" (because he goes so fast)

For Cuero, Texas - "Ruby Begonia" (because she can handle a paycheck)

Dates:

First heat is held in Worthington at the Annual King Turkey Day Celebration. The second heat is in Cuero at the Annual Cuero Turkeyfest.

Rules:

Once the race starts, no physical contact is permitted between handlers and the bird. Guidance is by audible and visual means only. Penalty for physical contact for any reason is five seconds for each occurrence. Time penalty of 30 seconds in case a bird should escape from the race course, become incapacitated, or refuse to run. If handlers pick up the bird and run a 2 minute penalty will occur. Either city may substitute a different bird between heats without penalty.

Trophies:

To the winner, a three-foot tall walnut and gold, "Traveling Turkey Trophy of Tumultuous Triumph". To the loser, the "Circulating Consolation Cup of Consummate Commiseration". Trophies sponsored by the Worthington Daily Globe and the Cuero Record.

Birds:

"Paycheck" and "Ruby Begonia" are from a flock of wild turkeys in their respective counties.

Standings:

Worthington has won nineteen national titles and Cuero sixteen.

The closest margin of victory was by Worthington in 1977 when the time difference was nine-tenths of a second.

Reason for it all:

Both Cuero and Worthington have long staged turkey festivals. The Cuero Turkey Trot dates back to 1912. In 1973 the named was changed to the Cuero Turkeyfest and it was made an annual event. King Turkey Day in Worthington dates back to 1939 and is also an annual event. Both cities have traditionally herded a flock of live turkeys down Main Street ahead of their festival parades. Challenge to the race came from Cuero and was accepted by Worthington on the condition that the winning city is allowed to gobble up all the honors.