On Greyhounds
HISTORY OF THE BREED

The origin of the Greyhound is deeply rooted in ancient history. Greyhounds are among the oldest purebred dog breeds, dating back to the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. In fact, murals and paintings of dogs strikingly similar to today’s Greyhound existed over 4,000 years ago and some sources date this back as far as 8,000 years ago. In the past, greyhounds were the pets, hunting dogs, and companions of the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and the Medieval European aristocracy. They were bred to be gentle, patient, and sociable. Even the name of the breed has its roots in early history. Today, old running-dog men, especially in the north of Britain, will talk of a "Greu", which comes from the Saxon word for a running dog.

The Arabs so admired the physical attributes and speed of the Greyhound that it was the only dog permitted to share their tents and ride atop their camels. In early Arabian culture, the birth of a Greyhound ranked second only in importance to the birth of a son.

In Persia, Rome, and Greece, the Greyhound enjoyed similar stature and is the only canine mentioned in the Holy Scripture (Proverbs 30: 29-31).

Their link with nobility was established in 1014 when King Canute of England enacted the Forest Laws, which stated that only noblemen could Own and hunt with Greyhounds.

The Forest Laws were abolished in the 1500's by Queen Elizabeth I, who later initiated the first formal rules of Greyhound coursing (the pursuit of Hares), this officially inaugurating the “Sport of Queens.” In the late 1800's, the Greyhound was imported to America to help Mid-western farmers control the jackrabbit, a noted crop destroyer.

Unlike other modern breeds of dog, the greyhound has barely changed from its forebears. Throughout history, greyhounds have been bred to hunt by outrunning their prey. This breeding has given them athletic bodies, grace, and agility, and is what makes them attractive to racing trainers today. Greyhound racing did not begin until much later in this majestic breed’s history.

With the advent of the Greyhound in America, coursing events soon followed. Greyhound track racing, as we know it today, began with Owen Patrick Smith’s invention of a mechanical lure around 1912, which made racing around a circular track possible. The first circular track opened in 1919 in Emeryville, California. Although this track was not very successful, it paved the way for the development of the Greyhound racing industry in America.

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