Editing Greyhound racing (section)

== History ==
[[File:Greyhound Racing 2 amk.jpg|right|thumb|Greyhound on a gallop]]
[[File:EERSTE INTERNATIONALE WINDHONDENRENNEN VAN 1939-PGM4011567.webm|thumb|Greyhound race in 1939]]
Modern greyhound racing has its origins in [[coursing]].<ref name=EBDR>"dog racing." [[Encyclopædia Britannica]], Online Library Edition, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. [http://library.eb.co.uk/eb/article-9030788 Web. 5 Feb. 2012]</ref> The first recorded attempt at racing greyhounds on a straight track was made beside the [[Brent Reservoir|Welsh Harp]] reservoir, [[Hendon|Hendon, England]], in 1876, but this experiment did not develop. The industry emerged in its recognizable modern form, featuring circular or oval tracks, with the invention of the mechanical, or artificial, hare in 1912 by an American, Owen Patrick Smith. O.P. Smith had altruistic aims for the industry to stop the killing of the jack rabbits and see "greyhound racing as we see horse racing".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greyhound-data.com/knowledge.php?b=4&note=902566|title=Greyhound Knowledge Forum|website=www.greyhound-data.com|access-date=2019-12-22}}</ref> In 1919, Smith opened the first professional dog-racing track with stands in [[Emeryville, California]].<ref>Jane Alexiadis, ''[http://www.mercurynews.com/home-garden/ci_19602930 What's it Worth? Greyhound collection sale to benefit charity]'', San Jose Mercury News (23 December 2011).</ref>  The Emeryville arena was torn down in February 1920 to make way for the construction of a modern racetrack using the mechanical lure, described in the press as the "automatic rabbit."<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39455601/centennial_of_greyhound_racing_revival/ "Emeryville Arena Being Torn Down; Lumber Used To Build Coursing Park— Automatic Rabbit Electrically Controlled Brings Ancient Sport Back Within Law"], ''Oakland Tribune'', February 13, 1920, p18</ref>  The first race at the new park was on Saturday, May 29, 1920.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39455701/first_modern_greyhound_race_with/ "Emeryville Coursing Park Opens Saturday"], ''Oakland Tribune'', May 27, 1920, p18</ref>

The oval track and mechanical hare were introduced to Britain, in 1926, by another American, Charles Munn, in association with Major Lyne-Dixson, a Canadian, who was a key figure in coursing. Finding other supporters proved rather difficult, however, and with the General Strike of 1926 looming, the two men scoured the country in an attempt to find others who would join them. Eventually they met [[Alfred Critchley|Brigadier-General Critchley]], who introduced them to Sir [[William Gentle]].<ref name="Genders 1981"/> Between them they raised £22,000, and like the American 'International Greyhound Racing Association' (or the I.G.R.A.), they launched the [[Greyhound Racing Association]], holding the first British meeting at [[Manchester]]'s [[Belle Vue Stadium]]. The industry was successful in cities and towns throughout the UK – by the end of 1927, there were forty tracks operating.

Middle-class reformers were outraged,<ref>Norman Baker,  "Going to the Dogs—Hostility to Greyhound Racing in Britain: Puritanism, Socialism and Pragmaticism." ''Journal of Sport History'' 23.2 (1996): 97-119. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/43609987 Online]</ref> and the working-class delighted, with the emergence in the late-1920s of Greyhound racing as an entertaining new sport and betting opportunity.  At first it seemed modern, glamorous, and American, but the middle class lost interest when working-class audiences took over.<ref>Mike Huggins, "Going to the dogs." ''History Today'' 56.5 (2006): 31+.</ref><ref>Daryl Leeworthy,  "A diversion from the new leisure: greyhound racing, working-class culture, and the politics of unemployment in inter-war South Wales." ''Sport in History'' 32.1 (2012): 53-73.</ref> The working class appreciated the nearby urban locations of the tracks and the evening times of the meetings. Betting has always been a key ingredient of greyhound racing, both through on-course bookmakers and the [[totalisator]], first introduced in 1930. Like [[horse racing]], it is popular to bet on the greyhound races as a form of [[parimutuel betting]].

Greyhound racing enjoyed its highest United Kingdom attendances just after the [[Second World War]]—for example, attendances during 1946 were estimated to be around 75 million based on an annual totalisator turnover of £196,431,430.<ref name=LA>{{cite book|title=Particulars of Licensed tracks, table 1 Licensed Dog Racecourses|year=1946|publisher=Licensing Authorities}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/72MmEX|title="Stock Exchange." Times, 17 Apr. 1947, p. 9|work=[[The Times]]|date=17 April 1947 |page=9 }}</ref> The industry experienced a decline beginning in the early 1960s, after the 1960 [[Betting and Gaming Act 1960|UK Betting and Gaming Act]] permitted off-course cash betting. Sponsorship, limited television coverage, and the later abolition of on-course betting tax have partially offset this decline.