Major League Baseball

Nats to hold auditions for 2011 racers

Published Feb. 9, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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Thinking of running for President?

The Washington Nationals are looking for the 2011 GEICO Racing Presidents. The team is now accepting applications and will hold auditions during the Presidents Day weekend to fill the shoes of Abe, George, Tom and Teddy for the upcoming season.

Developed in 2006, the four GEICO Racing Presidents are 12-foot oversized mascots who race during the fourth inning of every Nationals home game. In five years of racing, Teddy Roosevelt has never won a race. Abraham Lincoln leads the pack with 140 wins, followed by Thomas Jefferson with 91 victories.  George Washington has crossed the finish line first 96 times.

The popular figures can be seen promoting the team and its community efforts at Nationals Park, the District and around the Washington region. In 2010, all four Racing Presidents visited the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll and Fourth of July celebrations and made guest appearances in The Washington Ballet production of Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker at the historic Warner Theatre.

Applicants must be between 5 feet 7 inches and 6 feet 6 inches tall, be able to run from center field to home plate (approximately 200 yards) in 40 seconds, be capable of wearing a costume weighing about 45 lbs. for several hours and be available for at least 35 Nationals home games.

Racing hopefuls will have until Feb. 11 to submit their cover letter, resume and photo to Entertainment@nationals.com. Applicants will be contacted and required to answer six mascot-related questions.

Select candidates will be invited to Nationals Park on Feb. 19, where they will be required to perform a freestyle dance, run a 40-yard dash and run two Presidents Races from center field to the home dugout. They will also be interviewed by the Game Operations panel.

This tryout is by invitation only and is not open to the public. Tryouts will take place regardless of weather conditions. For more information, visit nationals.com/racingpresidents.

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