The Whippet. 171 



apply to dog racing, as dealt with later on, In some 

 of the more important handicaps, each couple of dogs, 

 as they are drawn together, have to compete the 

 best out of five or even more courses. In minor 

 affairs, one rabbit for each trial is made to suffice. 



Private matches between two dogs are frequently 

 run, and such often enough create as much interest 

 as the handicaps, especially when two " cracks " 

 are competing. Here the conditions may vary some- 

 what, the start given the rabbit bei g specially 

 named, and the number of courses being usually 

 the best of twenty-one, or, perhaps, of thirty-one, a 

 certain time, generally five minutes, being allowed 

 between each trial. 



However, if the whippet is to become generally 

 popular, it will not be by means of an ability to kill 

 rabbits. The dog racing by him will be more likely 

 to find favour with the public. Those who are not 

 connected with the sport will be surprised to find 

 the hold it has obtained amongst the working classes 

 in the north. There are repeatedly from one 

 hundred and fifty to over three hundred such dogs 

 entered at one competition, the trial heats of which, 

 three dogs taking part in each heat, being run as a 

 rule one Saturday, the finals the Saturday following. 

 This day is a half-holiday with the miners and work- 

 people, hence its selection, but other meetings are 



