MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews racing coach of Paycheck, a turkey who was to compete in Worthington Turkey Race until found killed. It makes for a strange conversation.

In 1972, Worthington heard that Cuero, Texas staged a live turkey race as part of its turkey celebration. The Worthington King Turkey Day committee was nudged to send a challenge to Texas. In 1973, Cuero sent a turkey and handlers to Worthington to be pitted against a Worthington bird in what was billed as the "Great Gobbler Gallop." The Worthington bird was called Paycheck (nothing goes faster than a paycheck). The Texas bird was Ruby Begonia. The race has been a feature of the turkey celebrations both at Worthington and Cuero for over 30 years.