Greyhound track racing, as we know it today, began in 1919 in California with the invention of a mechanical lure. For the next 65 years the status of the greyhound declined as people saw these dogs race and concluded that they were high strung, aggressive and unloving.
Where was the first greyhound race?
The first recognized commercial greyhound racetrack in the United States was built in Emeryville, Calif., in 1919 by Owen Patrick Smith and the Blue Star Amusement Company.
Why is greyhound racing so cruel?
Racing greyhounds endure lives of confinement, are subject to standard practices that are cruel and suffer injuries and even death. Greyhounds used for racing are kept in cages, barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around, for up to 23 hours per day. Shredded paper or carpet remnants are used as bedding.
What is the history of dog racing?
O.P. Smith demonstrated dog racing in 1919 at Emeryville, California, and the first track opened there that year. The sport was introduced in England in 1926 and became more popular there than in the United States. Dog racing later spread to such other countries as Ireland, Belgium, Australia, and Mexico.
Why is a greyhound called a greyhound?
The name "Greyhound" is generally believed to come from the Old English 'grighund'. 'Hund' is the antecedent of the modern "hound", but the meaning of 'grig' is undetermined, other than in reference to dogs in Old English and Old Norse.
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