THE WHIPPET 1 01 



tially according to the scale of yards for pounds. By such means 

 high-class dogs will be meeting high-class dogs, and in races meant 

 for them; the moderate ones also would find races suitable for 

 them, and the handicap would still remain for any class of animal. 



Again, no more interesting race could be inaugurated than one 

 for dogs whelped in the spring of one year and entered for a yards- 

 for-pounds race to be run in the spring of the following year. 

 Equally interesting would be a similar race for bitches, and more 

 interesting still would be one for dogs and bitches run some months 

 after, say in the autumn. The difficulty as to time of whelping 

 would be no greater than it is in coursing or time of foaling in 

 horse-racing. In fact, there are no difficulties in dog-racing greater 

 than those found in coursing and horse-racing, and they can be 

 overcome by the same means as the National Coursing Club and 

 the Jockey Club employ in overcoming their difficulties." 



Mr. Sutherland next refers to the Whippet as used for rabbit- 

 coursing, as follows: 



" The matches in connection with rabbit-coursing invariably take 

 place in enclosed grounds set apart for that and other sports. These 

 matches are ruled by what is termed the ' 6oyds. Law ' that is, 

 the rabbits are allowed 6oyds. start of the competing dogs. The 

 slipper, who is selected for his known impartiality, grasps the com- 

 petitors by the napes of their necks, despatching them as evenly 

 as possible the instant the rabbit is dropped at the stipulated mark 

 by the judge, who immediately takes up a favourable position to 

 view the course, and decides in favour of the dog first seizing and 

 holding bunny. 



It will thus be seen that the duties of judge are not so intricate 

 as those of the Greyhound judge, who is called upon to decide 

 the knotty points of pace, the working turns, go-byes, and merits 

 of the kill. 



The weight of the dogs is generally the guide in match-making, 

 the heavier dog having to give his opponent a certain number of 

 dead rabbits ; but height in some districts rules the handicap. In 

 rabbit-coursing, however, as in straight-running, there are at all 

 times a few dogs more proficient than others ; these are handicapped 

 by dead rabbits, according to merit ; and, as in the latter sport, 

 bitches, being considered greater adepts at the game, are handi 

 capped accordingly. A good weight for a Snap-dog is from 22lb. 

 to 25lb." 



The Whippet for straight-running needs to be trained much 

 upon the same lines as his near relative the Greyhound. Upon this 

 subject Mr. Freeman Lloyd has a good deal to say in his monograph. 

 Suffice it for the purpose here to refer to his directions in a con- 

 densed form. Sharp walking is advocated, the actual distance 

 depending upon the individual dog's feeding and constitution. 



