Pigeons to race from Albany to Houston

The Gulf Coast Racing Pigeon Association is planning to start one of its biggest races of the year Thursday,Nov.2inAlbany.

MikeBelloftheGCRPA, based in Houston, said the event is being held in conjunction with the 2023 AUConvention,whichwill beheldNov.1-4inHouston “We’ve probably got 50-60 pigeon breeders represented in this race,” Bell said. “It’s like the Super Bowl of pigeon racing.”

Bell said Albany’s location relative to Houston – 300 airline miles – makes it a good starting point for the race.

“We hope to release in the parking lot of Albany High School about 9:00 a.m.” he said. “We picked the high school because it provides a good, clear release. It’s an open parking lot with no wires around and the birds can see the sun, which they use to orient.”

Bell said races vary in distance, usually determined by the age of the birds.

“In the spring, we’ll go up to 500 miles,” he said. “In the fall, it’s for young birds that were hatched this year. The farthest they go is 300 miles.”

The race is expected to have between 200 and 300 birds, Bell said. The racing pigeons will be brought in on a specially built trailer thatallowsforamassstart.

“We drop the door and they are gone,” Bell said. “The latches are ziptied shut with a lead seal. The bigdoorsaresealedup,and a little entry door where we put the birds in is sealed up, as well.”

Whilebreeders,owners, andhandlerscomefromall over North America and evenasfarawayasEurope and Asia, the birds have been raised and trained in Houston.

“At the beginning of the year, pigeon breeders from all over the country sent us their young ones to train to the Houston area,” Bell said. “We’re already in the middle of the race season. We’ve had four races – two 100s and two 200s.”