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Dogs and All about Them
·
Robert Leighton
138
This
sport
has
been
mainly
confined
to
the
working
classes,
the
colliers
of
Lancashire,
Yorkshire,
Durham,
and
Northumberland
being
particularly
devoted
to
it.
As
a
rule
the
contests
are
handicaps,
the
starting
point
of
each
competitor
being
regulated
by
its
weight;
but
the
winners
of
previous
important
events
are
penalised
in
addition,
according
to
their
presumed
merit,
by
having
a
certain
number
of
yards
deducted
from
the
start
to
which
weight
alone
would
otherwise
have
entitled
them.
Each
dog
is
taken
to
its
stipulated
mark
according
to
the
handicap,
and
there
laid
hold
of
by
the
nape
of
the
neck
and
hind-quarters;
the
real
starter
stands
behind
the
lot,
and
after
warning
all
to
be
ready,
discharges
a
pistol,
upon
which
each
attendant
swings
his
dog
as
far
forward
as
he
can
possibly
throw
him,
but
always
making
sure
that
he
alights
on
his
feet.
The
distance
covered
in
the
race
is
generally
200
yards,
minus
the
starts
allotted,
and
some
idea
of
the
speed
at
which
these
very
active
little
animals
can
travel
may
be
gleaned
from
the
fact
that
the
full
distance
has
been
covered
in
rather
under
12
seconds.
In
order
to
induce
each
dog
to
do
its
best,
the
owner,
or
more
probably
the
trainer
stands
beyond
the
winning
post,
and
frantically
waves
a
towel
or
very
stout
rag.
Accompanied
by
a
babel
of
noise,
the
race
is
started,
and
in
less
time
than
it
takes
to
write
it
the
competitors
reach
the
goal,
one
and
all
as
they
finish
taking
a
flying
leap
at
their
trainer's
towel,
to
which
they
hold
on
with
such
tenacity
that
they
are
swung
round
in
the
air.
The
speed
at
which
they
are
travelling
makes
this
movement
necessary
in
many
cases
to
enable
the
dog
to
avoid
accident,
particularly
where
the
space
beyond
the
winning
mark
is
limited.
For
racing
purposes
there
is
a
wide
margin
of
size
allowed
to
the
dogs,
anything
from
8
lbs.
to
23
lbs.,
or
even
more,
being
eligible;
but
in
view
of
the
handicap
terms
those
dogs
which
possess
speed,
and
scale
9
to
12
lbs.
amongst
the
light-weights,
and
over
17
lbs.
in
the
heavy
ones,
are
considered
to
have
the
best
chance.
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