SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN 



about i^ yds. to each dog, eight being the 

 usual number in each heat. The course is 

 divided in some places lengthways by tapes or 

 strips of canvas about i8 in. high. For thirty 

 yards from the start, the course is marked with 

 parallel lines a yard apart, every fifth line having 

 the distance from scratch clearly marked. The 

 winning post is 200 yds. from the scratch line, 

 and 1 5 yds. beyond is the over-mark line, beyond 

 which the ' runners ' must have passed before 

 the dogs have breasted the tape. Each dog on 

 reaching the starting point is given a distinguish- 

 ing colour to be worn round the neck. In some 

 courses there is a telegraph board showing the 

 colours of the dogs running in each heat, but 

 more often the colours are shown at the judge's 

 box. The judge's box should be if possible 

 below the level of the ground, as the distances 

 dividing the dogs at the finish are often only 

 inches. When on their marks the dogs are 

 stripped of their clothing, and held by the slipper. 

 Some slippers hold their charges by the loose 

 skin of the neck, and hind feet, others by their 

 hind quarters ; the method of holding depends 

 upon the temper of the dog. The ' runners,' 

 who are generally the owners, now wave in front 

 of their respective dogs either a bit of rag or rabbit 

 skin, and then run off to the over-mark line. 

 When they have all passed the 200 yard line 

 the starter fires his pistol, and the slippers throw 

 their charges into their stride, the runners all 

 the time whistling and calling their own dogs. 

 Babel at once reigns, and on the winning dog 

 passing the judge, his colour is immediately 



shown. The dog goes straight to his runner 

 and seizes the rag in his mouth ; he is then 

 generally taken away to some neighbouring cot- 

 tage, carefully rubbed down, and if successful is 

 prepared for the next heat. A very pleasing 

 element in this sport is the absence of cruelty, 

 and the little dogs seem to enjoy racing as much 

 as the spectators. The older dogs are of course 

 more used to the game than their younger rivals, 

 and seem to run with more judgement. On 

 the race card there is a full description of the 

 dogs, their handicaps, weights, and the colours 

 under which they run, together with the rules 

 for slippers and cautions to owners against cruelty. 

 Owing to the action taken by the Royal Society 

 for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the 

 following rule is also printed on the card : 

 ' Anyone running with live bait will be expelled 

 from the ground.' 



The training of the dogs is, of course, a serious 

 matter, and there is a great diversity of opinion as 

 to the best method. Some trainers maintain that 

 a whippet requires a month or six weeks to be 

 got ready for a race ; others consider that only 

 half that time is necessary. The whippet, being 

 a delicate animal, is difficult to train, and kindness 

 is absolutely essential. He walks about five miles 

 a day with an occasional gallop, and this is 

 found sufficient if a dog is taken over the 

 country. Dieting is of course most important. 

 Biscuit or bread soaked in broth is the chief 

 food given to the dog, but as the day of the 

 race approaches, he is fed on the very best meat 

 that can be obtained. 



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