Each year, "mules" whiz down Court Street to the whoops and cheers of the Fulton Street Fair crowds.
Behind the mules, however, is a longstanding friendly rivalry between three prominent Fulton companies: the Ovid Bell Press, Moser's grocery and The Callaway Bank.
"Roger Moser's office is going to be a permanent home for the (loser) trophy," said Glenn Harris, The Callaway Bank's mule race team leader.
The bank won last year's Mule Derby, swiping the title from previous winner Mosers and 2015 winner Ovid Bell Press.
"They lucked out last year," Moser's owner Roger Moser said on Wednesday.
The mules - really, wheeled carts built within specific parameters - are attached to guide wires. They zoom down the hill on Court Street before slamming into hay bales at the bottom. Entries are judged on their appearance and speed. Visit fultonstreetfair.com/events-2 to learn more about entering the race.
The rules are slightly different for the Mules for SERVE race. Following the open heat of the Callaway Cup Mule Derby, the three each dish out a $1,000 donation to local charity SERVE Inc., to compete against each other.
First one down wins, and the losers donate an additional $1,000 to SERVE. Technically, anyone can dish out the $1,000 fee to enter, but few have been brave enough to go toe-to-toe with the big three.
The carts work on a simple principle. But Ovid Bell Press, Moser's and The Callaway Bank go to great lengths each year to modify and improve their mules.
"We have refined some aspects of the mule," Harris said Wednesday. He's the son of one of the bet's original founders, Bruce Harris.
"We can't give out trade secrets," Debbie LaRue, director of public relations for The Callaway Bank, added quickly.
At Ovid Bell Press, President Troy Williams draws on his expertise as a mechanical engineer to perfect the company mule.
"Jack, my mule, one of his shoes got hung up on a bad brick (last year)," Moser said. "This year, we've re-shod him with some racing shoes."
There's also friendly trash-talking and pranking. One memorable year, the now-retired John Bell of Ovid Bell Press brought a live mule to the Callaway Bank lobby. Moser expressed regret he didn't have a chance to take out his usual ad in the Fulton Sun.
"Jack is a busy mule," he said.
Poking fun at rivals is part of the time-honored mule derby tradition, and this year is no exception.
Harris and LaRue said they don't think their rivals are ready this year.
"I asked Troy (Williams) at Ovid Bell Press about seeing his mule a month ago, and he changed the subject," Harris said.
LaRue added The Callaway Bank is always ready.
"We only wrote one check to give out," she said. "We don't plan to lose."
Moser said his team is ready to reclaim the top spot from The Callaway Bank. As for Ovid Bell Press, he's not remotely worried.
"They're scared," he said. "Jack and I don't figure that they will even show up."
Williams could not be reached for comment. No doubt he's busy tuning up his mule.
Charitable motivations
For all the smack talk, year after year each of the rivals have made it clear they're really doing this for SERVE. No matter who wins, SERVE receives $5,000 - certainly not chump change.
"We keep trying to get more people up and doing this, because it's all for SERVE," Harris said.
Moser said the same, adding that Jack's family history of racing (remember, this mule is actually a glorified go-cart) keeps him coming back for more.
Harris invited other companies or individuals to assemble a mule and pony up the entry fee. Perhaps it's time for a dark horse to shake up the mule derby.
Moser joined him on that invitation.
"If they want to step up, step up," he said.