His own heel hung over the back of them by about 2 inches. Anything for the cause, the chamber member said later. But organizers quickly talked him into entering, as the field looked bleak. As organizers worried about getting enough contestants to make it a competitive race, Gardner's friends urged him to win. Brian Cherkin of Philadelphia, wearing simple square-heeled black pumps, had also entered the fray.
Third one's a charm.
They hiked up their skirts. To view three pages of photos from the race, click here . And they were off. Thirteen teetering, bobbing drag queens, skirts in hand. In less than 30 seconds they reached the canal bridge, as spectators laughed, cajoled and spirited them on.