John Anthony, age 16, of Shreveport, La., for his question:
WHEN WAS THE FIRST DOG RACE HELD?
Highly trained greyhound dogs race against each other on many oval or circular race tracks in various parts of the world. The dogs compete in a sport that traces its roots back to about 2500 B.C. in Egypt.
The ancient sport was called coursing and it continued up through the Middle Ages to be very popular. Today's dog racing is an outgrowth of coursing, a sport that involved the pursuit by sight, rather than by scent, of live game by the dogs.
During the 18th Century, coursing contests were organized on a formal basis in Great Britain and during the 19th Century they became popular in the United States.
Early in the 20th Century many were opposed to the idea of using live rabbits as lures in coursing contests. A mechanical rabbit was introduced at a track in Emeryville, Calif., in 1919 and the idea was accepted by fans. Coursing became dog racing in many parts of the U.S.
A mechanical rabbit replaced coursing in Great Britain in 1925 and the sporting activity quickly become international, and dog tracks soon were found across Europe as well as in Australia, China, Mexico and Central America. The sport is most popular in Great Britain.
Today both male and female greyhounds are used in dog racing, although some races are held for whippets and Salukis.
Greyhounds weigh about 65 pounds. The dogs can cover from 12 to 20 feet in a single stride and can run as fast as 35 m.p.h. A greyhound with a good record in competition may cost as much as $50,000.
There are about 250 dog racing tracks in Great Britain today and about 50 in the U.S. Most of the facilities are especially designed for dog racing and have grandstands, a running track, kennels, facilities for making bets and a system of floodlights for night racing.
The race track is usually oval in shape and runs 450 yards in length. It is about 20 feet wide and the inside circumference is ringed by a rail on which a mechanical rabbit moves ahead of the dog pack by electrical power.
Many dog races are held at distances that vary from 330 to 770 yards although the distance run most often is 550 yards. The record for a dog race of 550 yards is 30.8 seconds.
Six to eight dogs run in each race and there are usually 10 races in a single program. Each dog wears a vest of bright colors and carries a large printed number that makes it easy for the judges and spectators to identify each animal.
The dogs wear muzzles to keep them from snapping at each other during the race. Each is put into its own stall at the starting line. The mechanical rabbit starts its run first and when it is 20 feet beyond the stalls, the dogs are let out to follow the lure. The speed of the rabbit is controlled so that it always stays about 20 feet ahead of the pack. The first dog across the finish line wins.
Dog racing ranks sixth among spectator sports in the U.S.