The Whippet, 263 



anything between 30 and 70 yards, and directly the 

 rabbit is dropped the dogs are sHpped, the latter 

 being done by a skilful man, specially appointed for 

 the purpose. Handicaps are made according to the 

 weight or height of the dog ; in Newcastle-on-Tyne 

 and the surrounding districts, the latter being the 

 custom — -the dog being measured from the top of 

 the shoulder blade to the pad of the foot — whilst in 

 Lancashire and Yorkshire handicap by weight is 

 preferred. In all cases a dog has to allow a bitch 

 three yards start. These customs or rules likewise 

 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 

 sufiBce. 



Private matches between two dogs are frequently 

 run, and such often enough create as much interest 

 as the handicaps, notably when two '^cracks" 

 are competing. Here the conditions may vary 

 somewhat, the start given the rabbit being specially 

 named, and the number of courses being usually 

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

 certain interval, generally five minutes, being allowed 

 between each trial. 



However, if the whippet is to become generally 



