The beard of a skater, one out of some 1,100 athletes, is covered with ice and snow during the 200 km (124 miles) speed skating race in the Carinthian village of Techendorf January 30, 2015. Techendorf is hosting the Alternatieve Elfstedentocht Weissensee (Alternative Eleven City Races Weissensee) races, a traditional Dutch series of speed skating events for both professionals and amateurs with some 5,000 participants, until January 31, 2015. (Photo by Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)

Every year, in the Rostov region of Russia, a group of 40 young and not so young rural workers compete in the Bison Track Show, or more affectionately known as: Russian Flying Tractor Racing. In front of crowds numbering up to 30,000 people, a series of smoke spilling, monstrous farming machines tear round an 8km mud track, plowing through lakes and dirt mounds, their turbos screaming and tyres scrabbling to find grip.

Cows rush through mud and water while jockey holds onto their tails, on March 12, 2016 in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. For hundreds of years these farmers have competed in one of the worldís most oddest races in the hopes of showing off their cattle. Known as Pacu Jawi the traditional cow race takes place in Padang, West Sumatra, and has become the highlight of the year for locals. (Photo by Teh Han Lin/Barcroft Images)

“Greyhound racing is a popular sport in Great Britain with attendances at around 3.2 million at over 5,750 meetings, across 26 stadia in 2007 alone. There are 25 licensed stadia in Britain, it is a Parimutuel betting tote system with on-course and off-course betting available, with a turnover of £75,100,000”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Pevensy Bugsy (L) wins the 8th race from Blanemore Razl (R) at the Coral Brighton and Hove Greyhound Stadium on March 21, 2012 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Competitors release their hens during the World Championship Hen Racing Championships in Bonsall, Britain August 1, 2015. (Photo by Darren Staples/Reuters)

The Al-Gaffal is an annual long-distance race between crews sailing 60-ft. traditional wooden boats called dhows and takes place in the Persian Gulf, between the island of Sir Bu Nair, near the Iranian coast and the Gulf emirate of Dubai. Photo: Traditional wooden boats, or dhows, compete at sunrise during the Al Gaffal race, a long-distance dhow sailing race, near Sir Bu Nuayr, near Sharjah May 18, 2014. (Photo by Martin Dokoupil/Reuters)

Competitors ride a home-made vehicle without an engine on a downhill track in the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Santiago, Chile, November 27, 2016. (Photo by Jonathan Faus/Reuters)

A member of Team Chez Victor falls in the water while competing during the Ice Canoe race at the Quebec Winter Carnival in Quebec City, February 5, 2017. (Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Reuters)