UK ORIGINS - HAMSTER RACING

In the UK, hamster racing began to grow in popularity after the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic, which cancelled many regular horse racing and other sporting events.[4] Professional hamster racing was introduced and promoted and the online bookmaker Blue Square organized the first ever hamster racing series. There were a series of qualifying rounds throughout the week and a final race. The main event was broadcast via webcast live and other media outlets like BBC London and Sky News, including a full-page article in big British newspaper publication The Sun and the Daily Mail.

Hamsters that race were divided into two race classes by following their species classifications – dwarfs and Syrians. Dwarfs, Cricetulus, is a genus of the rodent family that tend to be more rat-like in appearance than typical hamsters, while Syrians or Golden Hamster has expandable cheek pouches, mainly from the north of Syria and south of Turkey. Also, they are sometimes divided based on level of expertise, long-hair or short hair.

Since 2013, UK hamster racing has also been strongly influenced by the Hong Kong Racing League. Inspired by the feats accomplished by James Cooper and Daniel Offen, regional hamster racing championships have been held throughout the country, organised by Samuel Dodson. At the 2015 championships, the final was won by Offen's hamster, Lewis Hammy, in a straight race against Cooper's hamster, Jenson Button Nose, which fell asleep.

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