Pigeon Racing Scandal: Milk Cartons & Bullet Trains
The Ingenious (or Incredibly Cheating) Plan
In a plot that could make movie producers weep, two Chinese pigeon racers—Gong and Zhang—turned the humble homing pigeon into a high‑speed, milk‑carton‑packed hero.
- They grew the birds at two feeding points in Henan and Shanghai for a whole year.
- The pigeons were handed over to local organizers in Henan, but instead of heading straight to Shanghai, they detoured to a feeding point elsewhere in the province.
- From there, the birds were hidden inside milk cartons and whisked away by a bullet train—all while the organizers sat blissfully unaware.
Ride to Glory
Once the pigeons hit Shanghai’s finish line, they burst onto the scene, securing the first four places in the race. The prize? A staggering over one million yuan (about S$200,000). Needless to say, the feathers looked pretty feisty.
When the Fast Times Turned Suspicious
The birds flew at a blistering 150 km/h, a speed that raised eyebrows and cracked a few egg shells. Shanghai race organizers felt the need for a deep dive, and the scam eventually hit the front page of the state‑run Legal Daily.
Crack‑Up & Crack‑Down
Upon uncovering the ruse, the court didn’t bail them out with popcorn. Instead, they handed out:
- A suspended three‑year sentence for each of the duo—no jail unless they commit a double‑double mischief
- A fine of 30,000 yuan for Gong and 20,000 yuan for Zhang
- Accusations of violating competition rules by using older pigeons instead of the required one‑year‑olds
Cheating, Expunging, and the Skies Still Fly
While the guilty pair returned home without spending a night behind bars—thanks largely to surrendering the prize money—they now have a black‑market story for the next garden gossip session.
About the Sport
Pigeon racing remains a beloved pastime for many in China’s older demographic, especially in Shanghai, the modern hub of the sport. Though the birds can zoom at 150 km/h, that’s still a hair below the bullet train’s >300 km/h.
Takeaway
When it comes to cheating in sport, the 21st‑century criminals have outgrown the horses. Even when you hide a bird in a milk carton, the law—you win, brag, or get stuck—finally catches up. The end.
