Greyhound Racing

Greyhound racing is the grand and noble sport. The dogs chase a lure (traditionally an artificial 'hare' or 'rabbit') on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner. In many countries, greyhound racing is purely amateur and conducted for enjoyment. In other countries (particularly the UK, US, Ireland, Australia, Spain, China and Mexico), greyhound racing is part of the gambling business, similar to although far less profitable than horse racing. There is some popular concern in the aforementioned countries regarding the well-being of the dogs; the effectiveness of industry efforts to address these concerns is a topic of some debate. A greyhound adoption movement has arisen to assist retired racing dogs in finding homes as pets. In Florida, where 16 tracks survive, the handle, or amount wagered, on racing has dropped from about $620 million to $300 million in 10 years. A number of historical figures and celebrities have owned or raced greyhounds. Alexander the Great, Henry VIII and Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg Gothe all had racing greyhounds.  More recently Al Capone, Frank Sinatra, Vinnie Jones and Dara Ó Briain whose dog Snip Nua featured on BBC TV, raced greyhounds.