ii4 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



being regulated by its weight ; but the winners of previous 

 important events are penalised in addition, according to their 

 presumed merit, by having a certain number of yards deducted 

 from the start to which weight alone would otherwise have 

 entitled them. Each dog is taken to its stipulated mark 

 according to the handicap, and there laid hold of by the nape 

 of the neck and hind-quarters ; the real starter stands behind 

 the lot, and after warning all to be ready, discharges a pistol, 

 upon which each attendant swings his dog as far forward as 

 he can possibly throw him, but always making sure that he 

 alights on his feet. The distance covered in the race is 

 generally 200 yards, minus the starts allotted, and some idea 

 of the speed at which these very active little animals can 

 travel may be gleaned from the fact that the full distance has 

 been covered in rather under 12 seconds. 



In order to induce each dog to do its best, the owner, or 

 more probably the trainer stands beyond the winning post, 

 and frantically waves a towel or very stout rag. Accompanied 

 by a babel of noise, the race is started, and in less time than it 

 takes to write it the competitors reach the goal, one and all 

 as they finish taking a flying leap at their trainer's towel, to 

 which they hold on with such tenacity that they are swung 

 round in the air. The speed at which they are travelling makes 

 this movement necessary in many cases to enable the dog to 

 avoid accident, particularly where the space beyond the 

 winning mark is limited. For racing purposes there is a wide 

 margin of size allowed to the dogs, anything from 8 Ibs. to 

 23 Ibs., or even more, being eligible ; but in view of the handi- 

 cap terms those dogs which possess speed, and scale 9 to 12 Ibs. 

 amongst the light-weights, and over 17 Ibs. in the heavy 

 ones, are considered to have the best chance. 



Probably there is no locality where the pastime has main- 

 tained such a firm hold as in and around Oldham, one of the 

 most famous tracks in the world being at Higginshaw, where 

 not infrequently three hundred dogs are entered in one handi- 

 cap. The Borough grounds at Oldham and the Wellington 



