Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure (an artificial hare or rabbit) on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner.

In many countries, greyhound racing is purely amateur and conducted for enjoyment. In other countries (particularly the US, UK, and Australia), greyhound racing is a popular form of parimutuel gambling, similar to horse racing. There is some popular concern in the latter countries regarding the well-being of the dogs; the effectiveness of industry efforts to address these concerns is controversial. A greyhound adoption movement has arisen to assist retired racing dogs in finding homes as pets.

History

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Modern greyhound racing has its origins in coursing. The first recorded attempt at racing greyhounds on a straight track was made beside the Welsh Harp reservoir, Hendon in 1876, but this experiment did not develop. The sport emerged in its recognizable modern form, featuring circular or oval tracks, with the invention of the mechanical or artificial hare 1912 by Owen Patrick Smith. O.P. Smith had altruistic aims for the sport to stop the killing of the jack rabbits and see "greyhound race as we see horses". The certificates system led way to parimutuel betting, as quarry and on-course gambling, in the United States during the 1920s. In 1926, armed with the Smith patents and a hand shake, it was introduced to Britain by an American, Charles Munn, in association with Major Lyne-Dixon, a key figure in coursing, and Brigadier-General Critchley. The deal went sour with Smith never hearing from Munn again. Like the American, International Greyhound Racing Association, the In.G.R.A. Munn and Critchley launched the Greyhound Racing Association, and held the first British meeting at Manchester's Belle Vue. The sport was successful in cities and town throughout the U.K. - by the end of 1927, there were forty tracks operating. The sport was particularly attractive to predominantly male working-class audiences, for whom the urban locations of the tracks and the evening times of the meetings were accessible, and to patrons and owners from various social backgrounds. Betting has always been a key ingredient of greyhound racing, both through on-course bookmakers and the totalisator, first introduced in 1930. Like horse racing, it is popular to bet on the greyhound races as a form of parimutuel gambling.

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dogracing (Dog Racing) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:00:16 -0000
Hove Friday morning Bags is frozen off - Greyhound Racing News Stories | Racing Post ... http://bit.ly/5DIgd7 #dog #greyhound #racing
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arrogantbass (Chris Griffiths) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:03:58 -0000
how great a movie is donnie brasco? and honestly....I miss fucking dog racing...2 dollar beers...1 dollar hot dogs....1 dollar bets......:)
Bring on the weekend! Going dog racing at Crayford, I hope I Win lots of money!!
nealxbeck (neal) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:01:33 -0000
Bring on the weekend! Going dog racing at Crayford, I hope I Win lots of money!!
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propertyvine (Property Sale Direct) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:22:31 -0000
RT @PetsforPatriots Chicago dog racing track closes, now hundreds of greyhounds need loving homes. Please RT http://ow.ly/TRp9 #petadoption
RT @PetsforPatriots Chicago dog racing track closes, now hundreds of greyhounds need loving homes. Please RT http://ow.ly/TRp9 #petadoption
goopenheimer (teresa pratt) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:20:28 -0000
RT @PetsforPatriots Chicago dog racing track closes, now hundreds of greyhounds need loving homes. Please RT http://ow.ly/TRp9 #petadoption
Greyhounds homeless after dog racing track closes :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Pets: http://bit.ly/8YwNGY via @addthis
thedanzman (DanZman H P Bertram) Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:44:19 -0000
Greyhounds homeless after dog racing track closes :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Pets: http://bit.ly/8YwNGY via @addthis

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