Australian Greyhound Racing

Greyhound Racing in Australia is one of the best action sports around. The thrill of the dogs running is second to none.

Greyhound racing is one of the most popular spectator sports in the country and there are greyhound racing tracks dotted all around the country for the racing fans.

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A Brief History of the Greyhound

The Greyhound breed is believed to have had it’s start in ancient Egypt where it was common practice to mummify the dogs. Many a greyhound has been found entombed within a Pharaohs burial chamber.

The greyhound’s popularity grew as a breed from here, and the greyhound was spread throughout the Mediterranean countries, and even Rome. With the increasing interaction between the continents, the greyhound found itself in England and Ireland.

The greyhound was very popular and became a symbol of the ruling class and aristocracy. The greyhound was so treasured because it fitted perfectly with the favourite pastime of the nobility – hunting. The greyhound was so popular that laws were passed that banned any commoner from keeping one.

Greyhounds were used almost exclusively for hare coursing, and from the times of King Henry VIII the dog proved to be the most popular participant in this event. By the reign of Queen Elizabeth I rules were developed for hare coursing establishing the head start of the hare and the way that the agility and speed of the competing greyhounds were judged. In these events it did earn high points to catch the hare, but a far greater concern was the way that the greyhound conducted the chase.

Wagering in the greyhounds soon became a popular pastime. With the growing popularity the first official coursing club was established in England in the 18th Century. As the crowds grew to their peak in the 19th Century enclosed courses were introduced in the interests of safety. As these enclose courses were much smaller then the open courses, speed became the primary concern over agility for the greyhounds.

These beginnings have lead to the sport of greyhound racing today. The greyhounds compete in tests of speed chasing an artificial hare and betting on greyhound racing is one of the most popular activities today. With greyhound racing clubs and greyhound racing tracks scattered around the country, there’s no doubt that the popularity of greyhound racing is here to stay.