FACES IN THE CROWD

OPHIDIA
OAKLAND
Unraced as a 2-year-old, Ophidia, 3, won three straight 10-foot heats to take the annual St. Patrick's Day snake race in San Francisco. The yard-long black Florida racer slithered the final heat in seven seconds to triumph over a field of 75.

SUSITNA
PALMER, ALASKA
Su, 7, is retiring after winning six straight annual Fur Rendezvous world championship weight-pulling contests. The 170-pound male Saint Bernard has pulled as much as 5,220 pounds on a sled and 15,000 pounds on steel wheels on tracks.

SAM
NASHVILLE
Sam, a French Sion, won the 500-mile Shreveport-to-Nashville race, setting a Nashville Racing Pigeon Club record of 13:07. The 3-year-old son of Blue Boy is just two wins away from qualifying for the American Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame.

MAGGIE
LACROSSE, WIS.
Running through a tunnel, up and down a ladder, across a bridge and into a box, Maggie, a 6-month-old albino, finished 3½ lengths in front of Alice to win the endurance test and the second annual Rat Olympics at Viterbo College.

THREE POINTS IRIS
DELANO, MINN.
Competing against 65 other goats, Iris, a 7-year-old Toggenburg, won the Minnesota grand championship of the recorded grade division. When not winning shows, she supplies milk for the family of Viking Placekicker Fred Cox.

ROAST BEEF
NORRIDGEWOCK, MAINE
Discovered in the muck of nearby Mill Stream the day before the Oosoola Frog Race, the two-pound bullfrog won the 20-foot contest over 152 others for owner Paul McKechnie, 13, who encouraged him with cries of "Come on, froggy."

SIX PHOTOS