WHIPPET – RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19798, 19 November 1927, Page 12

WHIPPET - RACING.

AUCKLAND SHOW NOVELTY. ENJOYMENT OF THE DOGS. The announcement that whippet-racing will take place at the forthcoming Spring Show on the Agricultural and Pastoral grounds at Epsom has led to many inquiries as to how this sport is conducted. Exhibitions were recently given at the Manawatu Show and were a feature of great interest. Last week in Christchurch, on the grounds of the New Brighton Trotting Club, a meeting was held at which the New Zealand Whippet Cup wa3 competed for. This meeting was attended by Mr. W. W. Massey, president of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Messrs. E. Wright, Jas. Wylie, and C. W. Anderson, members of the executive, who report as follows: Unlike so-called tin hare racing, whippet racing is a real sport. It is only to be seen to realise how much it is enjoyed by the dogs themselves, and how eagerly they strive for supremacy. At the Auckland Show, racing will take place, not only on the flat, but also over hurdles, the latter being one of the most beautiful sights, to see the whippots fly the hurdles in steeplechase fashion. As the hurdles are constructed to about the same height as the dogs themselves, it is amazing the speed with which races are run, considering that six flights of hurdles have to be cleared by each dog. The races are run between tapes in exactly the same way as sprint races are arranged at athletic sports. The dogs are handicapped according to performance and are gently held by their attendants at the starting place. When the pistol is fired, the dogs leap forward along their own individual tracks between the tapes, rushing to their masters, who are situated beyond the finishing post, and who by whistling and calling encourage their dogs to put forth their best efforts. As is well known, the dog racing to its master will, on sighting him, soon slacken speed. For this reason the course is extended for 40yds. or 50yds. beyond the finishing post. So intelligent do the whippets show themselves that it has often been noticed that they will, before the pistol is fired, turn their heads toward the starter -in the same way as a jockey does, in the hopes of slightly anticipating the start. At the forthcoming Auckland Show there will bo eight races on the programme, four on the flat and four over hurdles. Among the dogs competing will be this year's winner of the New Zealand Whippet Cup, value 50gns. He is a beautiful pup, and was much admired by the spectators at the recent cup meeting. All parties to the present discussion regarding tin hare racing will be well repaid by a visit to the show, and will feel pleasure in seeing the enjoyment the dogs obtain in racing against each other, for surely no better combination can be witnessed than that of man's best friend rushing to its master.