Dogs and “Dope”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 217, 2 December 1927, Page 10

Dogs and “Dope”

FAST AND SLOW DOPES USED TO PUT “KICK” j INTO RACING GREY- j HOUNDS ! i THE PUNTER'S DILEMMA If dog punters see greyhound trainers visting the chemist too often, they want to find out what he is buying before they mortgage the home to back his “good things.” Fast dopes, like caffein and cocaine, are used to liven the dogs up, giving them "Dutch courage” so as to enable them to win. Slow dopes, as chloral hydrate or opium pills—the latter are easily obtainable —are used to stop them. But the science of doping is not for the novice, says a writer in the "Sydney Guardian.” Varying weights make dogs difficult subjects to dose efficiently, and as the animals are so small, any stimulant has effect quickly. CLOSELY WATCHED Epping insists that doge competing shall be brought to the kennels at 7 o’clock each race night, and 1 they are kept under close watch after arival. It is thus possible to guard efficiently against dogs being doped to win. On the other hand it is not so ea”sy to detect dogs who are out to lose. Alcohol may be given them in fairly large quantities prior to their arrival in the kennels, and as it is impossible to expect a dog to say “British Constitution.” drunk or sober, the vet has to keep his eyes open to catch the drunks. A "STOPPER.” Methylated spirts rubbed under the dog’s forearm prior to a race is alleged to be an efficient "stopper,” so is a little well masticated chewing gum tangled in the toe nails. Other gentlemen who want dogs to lose swear by a hair tied tightly round the tail of the dog. Greyhounds have long tails for a purpose, and they are very sensitive about them. They are their balancing organs and an irritating hair keeps Fido’s mind off the race. Epping’s method of weighing strops most of the under and over feeding which would be rife under lack of supervision. Many dogs have been prevented from running because of too great a variation with their previous racing weight, although a pound of butter as an internal lubricant doesn’t tend to make greyhounds go like greased lightning, nor does it weigh much. As long as dogs are dogs and men are men, there will be attempts to liven and deaden dogs, but efficient supervision and severe penalties frighten most miscreants.