Download or read book History of the American Greyhound Derby written by James J. Smith and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2012-04-18 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Traces the American Greyhound Derby from its inception in 1949 up to the last race in 2012, using photographs, illustrations, articles and actual American Derby racepages. Source of material provided from the private collection of David Jeswald.
Download or read book The History of Greyhound Racing in New England written by Robert Temple and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2010-12-27 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chapter One Greyhound Racing Comes To New England Before pari-mutuel greyhound racing came to New England in the mid-1930s it had a long uphill battle to overcome the regions puritanical resistance to gambling and what many felt was a moral injustice inherent in the sport which was promulgated by the image of dogs hunting down rabbits in what was known as coursing. With these objections in mind it is necessary to write a brief history of the reasons why the greyhound first came to America and how greyhound racing came about and evolved into a flourishing sport. Later chapters will explain in depth how its critics and changing consumer tastes eventually brought the sport down. A Brief History With the great western migrations of the mid-nineteenth century and the increased use of farmlands to feed the growing populations came the problem of protecting the crops from jackrabbits was paramount. The solution came from the railroad workers and settlers, many of whom emigrated from England and Ireland and were familiar with the greyhounds and their hunting skills. They began importing greyhounds and selling them to the farmers where they became valuable economic assets by keeping the rabbits away from their cash crops. Another purchaser was the U. S. Cavalry, including George Armstrong Custer, who utilized their skills for scouting enemy movement and hunting down game. Sources say that Custer coursed his greyhounds the night before the 1876 Battle of Little Big Horn and that the dogs survived the next days battle. Meanwhile, the farmers, looking for entertainment diversions, started racing their greyhounds in what were called coursing meets in which the greyhounds chased a live rabbit. Gambling at these meets was extensive. Coursings popularity spread rapidly, and not just in the farmlands. There even were meets in such locations as the mill towns of Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts and, of course, gambling was part of the action. There was also a spreading humanitarian backlash to coursing . As Frank G. Menke wrote in the 1942 edition of The Encyclopedia of Sports, Opposition to this form of sport developed. The humane people of the state rebelled at the idea of killing of the rabbit just to perpetuate a gambling diversion. They implored officials to make coursing null and voidand this was accomplished. The Mechanical Lure The next giant step to overcoming these objections and turning greyhound racing into a sport that quieted many of the humanitarian objections was accomplished by a gentleman named Owen Patrick Smith. He is one of the key figures in the history of the sport and was profiled in a long Aug. 27, 1973 Sports Illustrated article by Robert Cantwell. O. P. Smith (1869-1927), as he came to be known, was once hired to organize a coursing meet to promote the city of Hot Springs. He then turned his full attention to the invention of a mechanical lure for greyhound racing and in 1910 was granted a patent for the Inanimate Hare Conveyor. His breakthrough came at Emeryville, CA where a boxing promoter and businessman named George Sawyer built a track in 1919, utilizing the new device. In his Sports Illustrated article Cantwell writes of the 1,600 pounds of machinery to carry a one-pound rabbit which at times jumped the rail. Smith had another problem with the dogmen, Cantwell relates. They were of the belief that their greyhounds would feel deceived once they knew they were not chasing a live rabbit and never run ag
Download or read book Going to the Dogs written by Gwyneth Anne Thayer and published by University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2013-06-13 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the 1970s sitcom The Odd Couple, Felix and Oscar argue over a racing greyhound that Oscar won in a bet. Animal lover Felix wants to keep the dog as a pet; gambling enthusiast Oscar wants to race it. This dilemma fairly reflects America's attitude toward greyhound racing. This book, the first cultural history of greyhound racing in America, charts the sport's meteoric rise-and equally meteoric decline-against the backdrop of changes in American culture during the last century. Gwyneth Anne Thayer takes us from its origins in "coursing" in England, through its postwar heyday, and up to its current state of near-extinction. Her entertaining account offers fresh insight into the development of American sport and leisure, the rise of animal advocacy, and the unique place that dogs hold in American life. Thayer describes greyhound racing's dynamic growth in the 1920s in places like Saint Louis, Chicago, and New Orleans, then explores its phenomenal popularity in Florida, where promoters exploited its remote association with the upper class and helped foster a celebrity culture around it. By the end of the century media reports of alleged animal cruelty had surfaced as well as competition from other gaming pursuits such as state lotteries and Indian casinos. Greyhound racing became so suspect that even Homer Simpson derided it. In exploring the socioeconomic, political, and ideological factors that fueled the rise and fall of dog racing in America, Thayer has consulted participants and critics alike in order to present both sides of a contentious debate. She examines not only the impact of animal protectionists, but also suspected underworld ties, longstanding tensions between dogmen and track owners over racing contracts, and the evolving relationship between consumerism and dogs. She captures the sport's glory days in dozens of photographs that recall its coursing past or show celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Babe Ruth with winning racing hounds. Thayer also records the growth of the adoption movement that rescues ex-racers from possible euthanasia. Today there are fewer than half as many greyhound tracks, in half as many states, as there were 10 years ago-and half of them are in Florida. Thayer's in-depth, meticulously balanced account is an intriguing look at this singular activity and will teach readers as much about American cultural behavior as about racing greyhounds.
Download or read book The History of Greyhound Racing in New England written by Robert Temple and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2010-12 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chapter One Greyhound Racing Comes To New England Before pari-mutuel greyhound racing came to New England in the mid-1930's it had a long uphill battle to overcome the region's puritanical resistance to gambling and what many felt was a moral injustice inherent in the sport which was promulgated by the image of dogs hunting down rabbits in what was known as coursing. With these objections in mind it is necessary to write a brief history of the reasons why the greyhound first came to America and how greyhound racing came about and evolved into a flourishing sport. Later chapters will explain in depth how its critics and changing consumer tastes eventually brought the sport down. A Brief History With the great western migrations of the mid-nineteenth century and the increased use of farmlands to feed the growing populations came the problem of protecting the crops from jackrabbits was paramount. The solution came from the railroad workers and settlers, many of whom emigrated from England and Ireland and were familiar with the greyhounds and their hunting skills. They began importing greyhounds and selling them to the farmers where they became valuable economic assets by keeping the rabbits away from their cash crops. Another purchaser was the U. S. Cavalry, including George Armstrong Custer, who utilized their skills for scouting enemy movement and hunting down game. Sources say that Custer coursed his greyhounds the night before the 1876 Battle of Little Big Horn and that the dogs survived the next day's battle. Meanwhile, the farmers, looking for entertainment diversions, started racing their greyhounds in what were called "coursing meets" in which the greyhounds chased a live rabbit. Gambling at these meets was extensive. Coursing's popularity spread rapidly, and not just in the farmlands. There even were meets in such locations as the mill towns of Lawrence and Lowell, Massachusetts and, of course, gambling was part of the action. There was also a spreading humanitarian backlash to coursing . As Frank G. Menke wrote in the 1942 edition of "The Encyclopedia of Sports", "Opposition to this form of sport developed. The humane people of the state rebelled at the idea of killing of the rabbit just to perpetuate a gambling diversion. They implored officials to make coursing null and void and this was accomplished." The Mechanical Lure The next giant step to overcoming these objections and turning greyhound racing into a sport that quieted many of the humanitarian objections was accomplished by a gentleman named Owen Patrick Smith. He is one of the key figures in the history of the sport and was profiled in a long Aug. 27, 1973 "Sports Illustrated" article by Robert Cantwell. O. P. Smith (1869-1927), as he came to be known, was once hired to organize a coursing meet to promote the city of Hot Springs. He then turned his full attention to the invention of a mechanical lure for greyhound racing and in 1910 was granted a patent for the "Inanimate Hare Conveyor". His breakthrough came at Emeryville, CA where a boxing promoter and businessman named George Sawyer built a track in 1919, utilizing the new device. In his Sports Illustrated article Cantwell writes of "the 1,600 pounds of machinery to carry a one-pound rabbit" which at times jumped the rail. Smith had another problem with the dogmen, Cantwell relates. They were of the belief that their greyhounds would feel deceived once they knew they were not chasing a live rabbit and never run ag
Download or read book Going to the dogs written by Keith Laybourn and published by Manchester University Press. This book was released on 2019-01-14 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greyhound racing emerged rapidly in Britain in 1926 but in its early years was subject to rabid institutional middle-class opposition largely because of the legal gambling opportunities it offered to the working class. Though condemned as a dissipate and impoverishing activity, it was, in fact, a significant leisure opportunity for the working class, which cost little for the minority of bettors involved in what was clearly little more than a ‘bit of the flutter’ , This book is the first national study of greyhound racing in Britain from its beginnings, to its heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, and up its long slow decline of the late twentieth century. Much of the study will be defined by the dominating issue of working-class gambling and the bitter opposition to both it and greyhound racing, although the attractions of this ‘American Night Out’ will also be examined.
Download or read book Keefer written by Leslie a Wootten and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2019-04-22 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The true story of a racing Greyhound's tumultuous, injury-plagued, journey to domination during the 1980s. Hairline fractures and bone chips, subterfuge and jinxes, among other things, threatened Keefer's path into the history books, but he ducked and dodged, staking a claim on the come-back trail time after time, breaking records, reeling in fans and journalists with aplomb and charisma. Besides being a triumph-over-adversity narrative, the book provides a candid historical view of Greyhound racing in America--a view that has too often been ignored, or skewed, by the contemporary media machine.
Download or read book The Dogs written by and published by . This book was released on 1994 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The very best kind of sports writing, radiating Thompson's affection for the men and dogs that have made the sport.
Download or read book The Greyhound Stud Book written by and published by . This book was released on 1882 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Reign of the Greyhound written by Cynthia A. Branigan and published by Turner Publishing Company. This book was released on 2007-08-20 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The regal history of a revered, elegant breed They were one of the first wild animals to come under the protection of humans. They have sat at the feet of the Pharaohs. Their likenesses have graced coins, stamps, seals, and coats of arms. And they have won the hearts of dog lovers worldwide with their sweet nature, intelligence, and grace. Beautifully illustrated with more than 100 black-and-white reproductions and photos, The Reign of the Greyhound is a rich, historical testimony to the breed, celebrating its extraordinary place in canine history and human civilization. Passionately written by Greyhound expert Cynthia Branigan, this updated edition features new information on the history and current state of ex-racer adoptions, which save the lives of thousands of Greyhounds each year. From ancient Egypt to modern times, from the temple to the show ring to the track, you'll see how this noble breed has evolved from a royal pet to a racing dog to a loving companion-and you'll no doubt deepen your understanding and appreciation of this fine animal, whose regal history has been too long ignored.
Download or read book Jockey written by Scott A. Gruender and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2006-12-06 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Being a jockey is more than a career, it's a way of life. The glitz and glamour of the show may belie all the time and effort that goes into it, but the life of a jockey entails a great deal of risk, personal sacrifice and hardship. Often viewed as second-rate athletes, partly because of their small size, these riders are in actuality some of the toughest men in the athletic world. Pound for pound, they are unmatched in physical prowess. Controlling and guiding large thoroughbreds requires a great deal of strength and skill. In addition, there is little room for error during the close-run, high-speed races where the necessity of implementing a winning strategy makes the sport mentally as well as physically taxing. This volume provides an in-depth look at the self-employed, independent contractor known as the jockey and the all-encompassing culture of the race track he calls home. The book details the qualities and abilities of the successful jockey, the transitory nature of horse racing, the jockey's constant battle regarding weight, the financial motivation of the sport and the close-knit nature of the profession. Interviews with over 100 jockeys including Hall of Famers Pat Day, Earlie Fires and Russell Baze, add a personal focus and give the reader an inside glimpse into the world of horse racing. The last chapter includes brief biographical sketches of the most influential riders from the last 50 years.
Download or read book American National Pastimes A History written by Mark Dyreson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-04-14 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the colonies that became the USA were still dominions of the British Empire they began to imagine their sporting pastimes as finer recreations than even those enjoyed in the motherland. From the war of independence and the creation of the republic to the twenty-first century, sporting pastimes have served as essential ingredients in forging nationhood in American history. This collection gathers the work of an all-star team of historians of American sport in order to explore the origins and meanings of the idea of national pastimes—of a nation symbolized by its sports. These wide-ranging essays analyze the claims of particular sports to national pastime status, from horse racing, hunting, and prize fighting in early American history to baseball, basketball, and football more than two centuries later. These essays also investigate the legal, political, economic, and culture patterns and the gender, ethnic, racial, and class dynamics of national pastimes, connecting sport to broader historical themes. American National Pastimes chronicles how and why the USA has used sport to define and debate the contours of nation. This book was published as a special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport.
Download or read book Sports in America from Colonial Times to the Twenty First Century An Encyclopedia written by Steven A. Riess and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-03-26 with total page 1204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A unique new reference work, this encyclopedia presents a social, cultural, and economic history of American sports from hunting, bowling, and skating in the sixteenth century to televised professional sports and the X Games today. Nearly 400 articles examine historical and cultural aspects of leagues, teams, institutions, major competitions, the media and other related industries, as well as legal and social issues, economic factors, ethnic and racial participation, and the growth of institutions and venues. Also included are biographical entries on notable individuals—not just outstanding athletes, but owners and promoters, journalists and broadcasters, and innovators of other kinds—along with in-depth entries on the history of major and minor sports from air racing and archery to wrestling and yachting. A detailed chronology, master bibliography, and directory of institutions, organizations, and governing bodies—plus more than 100 vintage and contemporary photographs—round out the coverage.
Download or read book The Encyclopaedia of Greyhound Racing written by Roy Genders and published by Michael Joseph. This book was released on 1981 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive discussion of the racing of greyhounds in England, Ireland, and America includes discussions of the major racecourses and the raising and training of greyhounds
Download or read book Adopting the Racing Greyhound written by Cynthia A. Branigan and published by *Howell Book House. This book was released on 1998-05-13 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This revised and updated edition of the only book on "homing" the ex-racer tells prospective adopters everything they need to know to make adoption a success. In addition to practical information, such as care and feeding, readers learn the latest about the activities and competitions that are just for ex-racers and their owners. The Appendix lists all the agencies nationwide that adopt out Greyhounds, so an agency is sure to be nearby. For thousands of years Greyhounds have been bred to hunt and run at top speed. Because they are used to being with other dogs and people, they make perfect pets. Adopters can be assured their ex-racer will get along with adults and children and other household pets.
Download or read book Tampa Bay Magazine written by and published by . This book was released on 1987-01 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tampa Bay Magazine is the area's lifestyle magazine. For over 25 years it has been featuring the places, people and pleasures of Tampa Bay Florida, that includes Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. You won't know Tampa Bay until you read Tampa Bay Magazine.
Download or read book When West Ham Went to the Dogs written by Brian Belton and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2002-08-01 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning with a loving history of greyhound racing, Brian Belton tells the tale of a time and a place when the punters of the East End of London came together to urge their dogs on.
Download or read book Encyclopedia of World Sport written by David Levinson and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 1999 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spanning the wide world of sports, this volume is packed with every conceivable fact that anyone would possibly want to know about nearly 300 sports, including history and practice worldwide.
