Small Legs, Big Heart

“The origin of new the Corgi,” the official site of the Welsh Corgi League notes, “is lost in the mists of time.” 

“It is possible to believe that, as the only herding dog indigenous to Wales, they can be traced back to 920 A.D.,” corgi historian—corg-storian?—Sue Harrison writes. “Certainly, a Welsh cattle dog is mentioned in the 11th-century Doomsday Book. Both varieties, Pembroke and Cardigan, were similar in looks and working ability, the Cardigan eventually keeping to the Teckel type—more like the Dachshund—whereas the Pembroke was most probably developed more from the Spitz type of dog brought to the Pembrokeshire lands by the invading Vikings.”

A contemporary wiggle of corgis—yes, that is the actual term for a group of three or more corgis—brought both cuteness and that conquering spirit to the Coastal Corgi Classic at Gulfstream Park just north of Miami in Hallandale Beach. The mid-March event showcased “registered corgi dogs competing in a series of short, controlled sprint races conducted under strict safety, operational, and animal welfare guidelines on the dirt track.”

AQUA Miami sent intrepid local photographer/painter/singer-songwriter Teá Mox—whose multimedia artwork and music we covered in our January 2026 issue—to capture the festivities. 

“It’s utterly absurd, but I love that it exists,” Mox reports. “I had never seen so many corgis in one place before. The corgis were adorable. None of them seemed to have any clue about what was happening, but they all looked happy to be there.” (The swag bags stuffed with tennis balls, dog bowls, treats, and more for all entrants probably didn’t hurt.)

After four shockingly spry qualifying heats, the top three finishers from each moved onto the championship race…well, after a cooling dip in the pool. (South Florida heat, even in March, is pant-inducing.) From there, medals and trophies were presented to the top three winners. Mox’s photos capture the glory and sportsmanship of the breed—which, okay, might’ve disappointed their Viking ancestors, but thrilled the Gulfstream crowd. 

For more information, visit gulfstreampark.com.

Mexican-American musician and painter Teá Mox got her first camera as a teenager. In addition to photography, she is also working on the follow-up to her 2025 album Sailors. Visit her at teamox.mypixieset.com.