BURBANK, Calif. - Baker to Vegas is known as one of the most grueling relay races on the circuit.
Teams representing law enforcement agencies from all over brave 100-plus-degree temperatures in a 120-mile, 20-stage race stretching from Baker, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Those involved don't do it to win money, but for bragging rights and pride. Some agencies dedicate the race to fallen colleagues, including one beloved K-9 this year.
In November 2025, the team from Burbank PD dedicated this year's race to fallen K-9 Spike, killed when he was shot by a suspect hiding in bushes earlier that year. Over the following months, team members trained relentlessly, logging hundreds of miles in preparation, which paid off.
Perhaps they were hearing barking from the sky. For whatever reason, the Burbank Police Department team completed a flawless race, securing first place in the very competitive "150 category" and finishing 14th overall, out of 275 teams. Their final time, 14:49:51, nearly 25 minutes faster than their previous best.
"We'll be back next year," they say, but this race will always be special, as it honored a truly special member of the department — K-9 Spike.