CHEETAHS ON THE TRACK

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1938, Page 5

CHEETAHS ON THE TRACK

New London Sport FIFTY MILES AN HOUR ATTAINED IN TWO SECONDS. LEAVE GREYHOUNDS STANDING. They move in a series of magnificent bounds and the greyhound has no chance with them over three or four hundred yards, writes our London correspondent concerning the novelty which has been introduced in London in the tin-hare sport. The cheetahs were brought to London by Mr. Kenneth .Dower,. author, squash racquets and tennis player from Africa, and they appeared in competition against greyhounds. in December at the Romford Stadium, London. , The speed of Mr. Dower's cheetahs lias amazed the crowd at the Romford Stadium, London, these last two Saturdays, the writer continues. The greyhound-racing enthusiast thought that there was no fourlegged animal as fast as the greyhound, but the cheetah; not so obviously looking as though built for speed, left the dogs almost standing. The cheetah, or hunting leopard, is neither cat nor dog, hut combines certain features of both. It is catlike in appearance, vet of lighter, long-legged build, and its feet and claws are not those of a cat. It is found throughout Africa and South

Western Asia, but is rapidly disappearing from India. It usually haunts the low, rocky hills bordering the plains on which antelopes, its chief prey, are found. The length of an adult is about 7 feet, including the tail, which is about two and a-halt feet long. The height of the shoulder is about two and a-half feet. From a very early period cheetahs have been trained for the chase, and the Duke of Cumberland, brother of George IV., tried one against a stag in Windsor Park in 1799 behind a 15-feet netting enclosure. The stag showed fight and the cheetah jumped the net and dashed through the crowd to kill a fallow deer in the open park. This was the first and last, attempt to use them in England till now. The one trouble about, these animals, which are really friendly enough, is that if they realise that they cannot catch their victim within a reasonable distance, they may turn a little sulky and give up. They will always race a dog, knowing that they are faster, but not another faster cheetah or faster quarry.