Greyhound Racing

Greyhound racing started as a sport in the United Kingdom in 1926, and ironically, it was an American Owen Patrick Smith who, after building a greyhound racing track in the United States in 1925, came over to Britain. He invented the mechanical lure that is used to lure the greyhounds into chasing it around the track. He knew that this new sport would receive a wider appeal in Britain. He struck a deal with Charles Munn to introduce greyhound racing in Britain and Charles, being a shrewd businessman, immediately saw the appeal of this new sport. They then, after teaming up with the politician Brigadier General Alfred Critchley and the entrepreneur Sir William Gentle, setup the Greyhound Racing Association.

The association built the first greyhound racing stadium in Manchester in 1926, and the first event was held on July 24th 1926. A small crowd of 1,100 people came to witness the first ever greyhounds race in the United Kingdom. The word spread around, and only in weeks, the crowds had swelled to over 17,000 people who wanted to witness this new and exciting sport.

Despite its quiet start, the potential was there, and the association started building stadiums all around the country. Greyhound racing became an opportunity for greyhound owners and breeders to breed and train greyhounds for racing. On the other hand, a new avenue for betting opened up. Bookies started giving odds on the dogs and gamblers, lined up to place their bets. Greyhound racing did not have the same appeal as horse racing, but it was a new sport with its own thrills and charm.

Greyhound racing took off in popularity, and people would throng the stadiums to watch greyhounds chasing a mechanical hare on the track. Bets were placed and the thrill and excitement of winning was the same as that of winning a bet in other sports. During the two World Wars, the sport lost its charm like other sports. But, after the war was over, greyhound racing in Britain gained popularity again. Many canines, like Mike the Miller, became superstars, and people would flock the stadiums to see the greyhound races.

Greyhound races are held in Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Ireland and the United States. Greyhound racing on a smaller scale is held in a number of countries all around the world. In these countries, there are no official governing bodies for the sport. In some countries, the owners of greyhounds are also the trainers, and they get together and conduct races among their dogs.

In the countries where greyhound races are governed by a regulatory body and there are greyhound race tracks, greyhound racing has grown into a multi-billion dollar business. The greyhound racing associations in these countries are constantly working towards keeping people interested in this sport, and nowadays, greyhound races are broadcasted on the radio and television as well.

As greyhound races have always been held in the evenings, they have been popular with the crowds. People from all walks of life drop in after work and spend a pleasant evening, witnessing greyhound races. Gamblers of course participate in betting and follow the career of the greyhounds as punters do of horses.

Animal lovers and associations have tried to get greyhound racing banned; their basic concern is for the welfare of the greyhounds that get retired from racing after a few years. A greyhound like other canines has an average life span of ten to fifteen years, but their racing career ends at a maximum age of six years. Greyhounds by nature are quiet dogs and, contrary to the common belief, are not hyperactive. When greyhounds participate in racing, they remain in crates for twenty hours at a stretch. They make excellent house pets and get on well with their new owners and children. Owners usually retire their greyhounds if they do not achieve any of the first four positions in a race, while some dogs are retired and put up for adoption when they are just four years old. Champion dogs, after retirement, are kept by owners for breeding. Interestingly, champion greyhounds trace their ancestry back to Ireland, which has always led in greyhound breeding.

Greyhound racing today has its own set of fans, and the sport is actively followed by them. Fans and bettors have their favorite dogs and follow the track events with the same enthusiasm as horse racing fans.