1981 was a big year for entertainment in the United States. Donkey Kong hit arcades, MTV began broadcasting, and The Great Folsom Snail Race was launched in Folsom.

For nearly twenty years, the community gathered to cheer on these slow-but-steady competitors, sponsored by local children, families, businesses, and civic leaders. 

The races featured first-round competitions, semi-finals, and a championship. Awards were presented to overall and division champions, as well as for the best-named and best-dressed snails.

As the Folsom Telegraph once noted:

“Mitch Mitchell, Director of Communications at Aerojet, compared the racing of snails to the lifestyle in Folsom — slow and easy.”
— Folsom Telegraph, “Racing Those Snails,” November 11, 1981.

EVENT PURPOSE: TO BE FUN, HUMANE AND EDUCATIONAL

GOALS ARE TO:

• Help children learn about snails and their role in the ecosystem
• Teach kindness, respect and empathy toward animals
• Ensure that no snail is harmed or stressed for the sake of competition

ALL SNAILS USED IN THE EVENT WILL BE:

• Kept in a cool, moist container with appropriate shelter until the event
• Returned to their original collection site as soon as the event is over

HANDLING RULES FOR KIDS:

• Wash hands before and after touching snails
• No decorating of snail shells, painting, gluing or applying anything to their shells
• Always pick snails up gently, never pulling on the shell if they’re stuck
• No squeezing, prodding, poking, tapping, smashing, licking, hazing, blowing on or otherwise trying to make them go faster.
• If a snail retracts into its shell and stays that way, it is considered “retired from the race”
• Each snail should only be picked up and placed once per race

RACE SET UP:

• Races will be held on a stable, moist surface
• A small piece of lettuce may be placed at the far end as a gentle, natural motivation
• Each race will last no more than 3–5 minutes
• The race area must be out of direct hot sun, protected from strong wind, lightly misted if surfaces begin to dry

EDUCATION:

• Snails are living animals. They feel stimuli, need moisture and depend on their shells for protection.
• We must treat them with the same kindness we show pets.
• Kids will be encouraged to notice differences in speed, direction and behavior
• Your snail doesn’t know it’s in a race. It just knows it wants to explore and maybe find a snack.
  Our job is to keep it safe while we watch what it chooses to do.
• These are living animals. Our first rule is: Snail safety comes before winning. If your snail doesn’t want to move, that’s okay. That snail is telling us it’s done today.