THE WHIPPET. 



201 



King Edward and Queen Alexandra (then 

 the Prince and Princess of Wales) being 

 present. There is no diminution in the 

 popularity of the sport, however, in the 

 northern shires ; rather is it on the increase. 

 The principal handicaps attract not only a 

 large number of entries, but also a big con- 

 course of spectators, who, for the most part, 

 take more than a passing interest in the 

 success or defeat of the dog or dogs which 

 may commend themselves to their ideas at 

 the moment, for nearly all are financially 

 interested one way or another. 



Probably there is no locality where the 

 pastime has maintained such a firm hold 

 as in and around Oldham, one of the most 

 famous tracks in the world being at Higgin- 

 shaw, where not infrequently three hundred 

 dogs are entered in one handicap. The 

 Borough grounds at Oldham and the Welling- 

 ton grounds at Bury are also noted centres 

 for races. It is a remarkable but well recog- 

 nised fact that bitches are faster than dogs, 

 and in consequence the terms upon which 

 they are handicapped are varied. The 

 general custom is to allow a dog 2^ to 3 

 yards advantage for every pound difference 

 in weight between it and the gentle sex. 



One of the fastest dogs that ever ran was 

 Collier Lad, but he was almost a Greyhound 

 as regards size. Whitefoot, whose owner 

 challenged the world, and was considered 

 to be quite unbeatable, was a Whippet in 

 every sense of the word, and was a nice 

 medium weight, though probably Capple- 

 bank's time of nj seconds stands alone ; 

 it must be noted, however, that his record 

 was made on the Wellington grounds at 

 Bury, where the course is slightly downhill. 

 The best of the present-day racing dogs 

 are Polly fro' Astley (15 Ibs.) and Dinah 

 (nilbs.), and of those which promise well 

 for the future, Eva, whose weight is only 

 g| Ibs., is most prominent, as may be 

 gauged from the fact that she is at the 

 time of writing entered in a handicap 

 commanding three hundred entries, in which 

 heavier dogs are given a longer start. 



The training of Whippets is by no means 

 easy work, and is more expensive than most 

 people imagine. To begin with, the very 



choicest food is deemed absolutely necessary, 

 in fact a Whippet undergoing preparation 

 for an important race is provided with the 

 most wholesome fare. Choice mutton-chops, 

 beef-steaks and similar dainties comprise 

 their daily portion. Of course exercise is 

 a necessity, but it is not considered good 

 policy to allow a dog in training to gambol 

 about either on the roads or in the fields. 

 Indeed, all dogs which are undergoing pre- 

 paration for a race are practically deprived 

 of their freedom, in lieu of which they are 

 walked along hard roads, secured by a lead ; 

 and for fear of their picking up the least bit 

 of refuse each is securely muzzled by a box- 

 like leather arrangement which completely 

 envelops the jaws, but which is freely per- 

 forated to permit proper breathing. Any 

 distance between six and a dozen miles 

 a day, according to the stamina and con- 

 dition of the dog, is supposed to be the proper 

 amount of exercise, and scales are brought 

 into use every few days to gauge the effect 

 which is being produced. In addition to 

 this private trials are necessary in the 

 presence of someone who is accustomed to 

 timing races by the aid of a stop-watch a 

 by no means easy task, considering that a 

 slight particle of a second means so many 

 yards, and the average speed working out at 

 about 1 6 yards per second nearly twice as 

 fast as the fastest pedestrian sprinter, and 

 altogether beyond the power of the fleetest 

 racehorse. 



Formerly there were two varieties of 

 Whippet, long and short coated, but the 

 former is rarely met with nowadays, either 

 at the exhibitions or on the running track ; 

 in fact, a long-coated dog, however good it 

 might be as regards anatomy, would have 

 a poor chance of winning a prize at a show, 

 for its shaggy appearance would most likely 

 hide the graceful outline which is a much 

 admired and characteristic feature. 



Of course the handicapper is a most im- 

 portant personage, and it is very creditable 

 that amongst surroundings where temptation 

 is so profuse, and could be embraced almost 

 with impunity, men are still at work who 

 have retained the confidence of the public 

 for over thirty years. Such a one is Mr. 



