Read on Twitter
A sport that is having an incredible 2020? Pigeon racing.
Yes, Pigeon racing.
Yes, Pigeon racing.
On the surface, pigeon racing is pretty simple: trained homing pigeons get released away from their homes and the time it takes it to return is tracked.
That gets compared to other pigeons in the race, and the bird that gets back the fastest is deemed the winner.
That gets compared to other pigeons in the race, and the bird that gets back the fastest is deemed the winner.
The roots of the sport supposedly date back to as early as 220 AD, and the main hub for pigeon racing historically has been Belgium.
Belgian breeders even started to develop specialized pigeons in the 1900s that could fly farther and faster called Voyageurs.
Belgian breeders even started to develop specialized pigeons in the 1900s that could fly farther and faster called Voyageurs.
It was considered a blue-collar sport in Europe, with the hobby and birds being passed down from generation to generation.
After WWII, there were >250k members in Belgium's pigeon fancier federation. They used to announce pigeon race results on the radio!
Now there are <18k.
After WWII, there were >250k members in Belgium's pigeon fancier federation. They used to announce pigeon race results on the radio!
Now there are <18k.
The decline largely has to do with costs (there is decent upkeep & true racers typically have multiple birds, if not hundreds) and sheer time spent.
Racing pigeons need to be attended to every day and ensuring breeding goes well is a time-intensive progress.
Racing pigeons need to be attended to every day and ensuring breeding goes well is a time-intensive progress.
Pigeon keeping has sort-of died out too - although there remains an interesting sub-culture around it here in NYC (shoutout Mike Tyson). Here is an incredible video from 2015 about a group from Brooklyn:
However, pigeon racing has recently resurfaced in Asia, where it has a long history.
In particular, China has embraced it - largely thanks to members of the country's elite.
The Chinese Pigeon Association had 10s of thousands of members in the 80s; there is now >400k.
In particular, China has embraced it - largely thanks to members of the country's elite.
The Chinese Pigeon Association had 10s of thousands of members in the 80s; there is now >400k.
If you want to be successful in pigeon racing, you need the right bird - which means a bird with the right bloodlines and attributes.
With the popularity of the sport growing among folks with a lot of money to spend in China, that has caused the prices of racing pigeons to soar.
With the popularity of the sport growing among folks with a lot of money to spend in China, that has caused the prices of racing pigeons to soar.
In November, a Chinese pigeon racer bought a Belgian-born bird at auction for $1.9 million.
The bird, named 'New Kim,' came from famed (in pigeon racing circles) breeder Gaston Van de Wouwer.
The bird, named 'New Kim,' came from famed (in pigeon racing circles) breeder Gaston Van de Wouwer.
Van de Wouwer, 76, is retiring from breeding and sold his entire flock at his coop.
445 birds were put up for auction and drew more than $7 million in bids.
445 birds were put up for auction and drew more than $7 million in bids.
Gino Clicque, another notable Belgian pigeon breeder, is currently running an online auction of 231 birds.
The current average price per bird is 2,308 EUR, or roughly $2,800 USD.
The current average price per bird is 2,308 EUR, or roughly $2,800 USD.
The prize of this lot is 'Golden King,' born in 2018 from a lineage of champions.
Honestly, the sheer amount of info provided regarding Golden King is so incredible I'd say just check it out yourself: https://auctions.pipa.be/en/auction/2020-12-gino-clicque-be-day-1/121232/golden-king
The high bid is currently ~$248,000.
Honestly, the sheer amount of info provided regarding Golden King is so incredible I'd say just check it out yourself: https://auctions.pipa.be/en/auction/2020-12-gino-clicque-be-day-1/121232/golden-king
The high bid is currently ~$248,000.
The prices for birds in some cases are up 10x compared to what they were being sold for ~10 years ago.
On one hand, it seems highly unsustainable.
On the other - and thanks to the spread of sports betting in China - pigeon racing again has the wind behind its back (sorry!)
On one hand, it seems highly unsustainable.
On the other - and thanks to the spread of sports betting in China - pigeon racing again has the wind behind its back (sorry!)
