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Hot Dog Eating Contest Season Begins (Now With Elephants)
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 2, 2009
Modified Jul 3, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 2, 2009
Modified Jul 3, 2009
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The holiday weekend has all but started, which means the countdown is on to the 94th Annual Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest. Tens of thousands will be watching Takeru Kobayashi and reigning champ Joey Chestnut shove the sticks of mechanically recovered meat down their throats. The current record stands at 66 hot dogs, and analysts have posted odds on the contest, in case you're, like, betting on this or something.
Odds for the Winner of the 94th Nathans Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest
Joey Chestnut -165
Takeru Kobayashi +135
Field (Any Other Eater) +300Odds the Winner Will Beat the Record (66 Hot Dogs)
Yes the record will fall +180
The record will stay the same -400
Meanwhile, warm up for the main event with another eating contest: the first-ever cross-species competition, to be exact. It's elephants versus humans tomorrow morning (11 a.m.) on Coney Island, with Major League Eating and Barnum & Bailey teaming up for a six-minute hot dog bun-eating competition, held in cooperation with Nathan’s Famous. There will be three Ringling Bros. Asian elephants and three Major League Eaters. MLE's spokesman said: "This contest has significant implications for inter-species relations. If the humans win it shows we are unbeatable in this sport, and if the elephants win it will significantly enhance their stature in the animal kingdom." Who will win? Probably PETA.
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Barnum & Bailey
contest
elephants
hot dog
hot dog buns
joey chestnut
Major League Eating
mle
nathan's
ringling
takeru kobayashi
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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