Spalding University will present its 40th annual Rat Race with the theme, “Viva Rat Vegas,” on April 12 at 10:15 a.m.
The event begins with a “rat parade” along Third and Fourth streets near the Spalding campus and will end at the Spalding University Center Building, 824 S. Fourth St.
The race — which will be held on a .024 furlong mini track — will be run by eight rats trained by teams of Spalding students. Dawne Gee will emcee the race.
The school also is planning a Rat Ball for that evening and a king and queen will be chosen from the student body. Students also are holding a penny war to support a charity.
The “most exciting two seconds in sports” was started by former professor Sister Julia Clare Fontaine in 1973 after she heard students complain of the “rat race” during exam week. She started the race as a way to help students relieve stress and learn about animal behavior modification.