Greyhound Racing History

Greyhounds were originally introduced for the jackrabbit population in the eighteenth century. Eventually, the farmers who had the dogs created a competitive race that we know today. Greyhounds were rates top of the list as pets and hunters by the ancient Pharaohs as they can be seen etched on the walls of Egyptian tombs.
It was Owen Patrick Smith who promoted the first race in California and is was he would had the idea of the mechanical lure. He first tried pulling a stuffed rabbit behind a motorcycle before he perfected the lure that could travel around the race track.
He began developing the lure as early as 1906 although in the history books it is seen as 1919 as the date when it was first used at Emeryville. O.P. Smith had earlier tracks in New Orleans, Texas and Arizona before heading to California where the sport blossomed and gained its fame. It was not till 1926 the Greyhound racing hit the British shores and in July of that year the first dog racing track was built. After that, more and more tracks were built and now dog races are a major sport in the UK.