Hang On to Your Lederhosen: That's One Swift Ox!

On the list of the world's 10 fastest land animals, you'd expect to find the normal cast of characters like the cheetah, Pronghorn Antelope, and Quarter Horse. And it's true: oxen appear nowhere on that list. But these noble bovine can run, as evidenced by the fifth-ever Bavarian ox-racing championship held over the weekend. Occurring only once every four years, the contest begins with a flower-filled procession while the main event pits beast of burden against draft animal in a furious dash across a field to the finish line. We hope that all that hoofing earns the competitors a break from their regular farm labor!