Show great speed of whippet research into the origin of the whippet shows that it Is a modern type of dog and considering how good it la Is in its way it Is a wonder that it la Is not more generally known and appreciated the word ord Is not in websters nor Is it to be found la ta many encyclopedias clop edias dalziel failed to trace the etymology of the word but fancied it to be a provincial name expressive of the diminutive size as well as the quick action of these dogs the old writers who mention it evidently have in mind a very different animal from the one now seen soon at our bench shows hallawell says it Is a cross between a spaniel and a greyhound which could not p produce aduce the pros nt type john taylor says in the shapes and forms of bogges of all which V e are but two sorts that are useful to mana mans profits which two are the ma stiffe and the little curre or house doggo all the rest are for pleasure and recreation the modern whippet Is a greyhound crossed with a small gerrior terr terri lor or so as to reduce the size of the progeny and by sc selection lection the terror type has been obliterated and that of the greyhound prey hound preserved this cross goes back sixty years or more morn during which time a record of some same sort has been kept so that a stud book exists but the dog has not been popular in shows be cause being bred to race its appear ance ie it of little consequence there is nothing enel acl about dog racing and although is a not known among wealthy it is a popular pastime of a large aass in the manufacturing districts of england and this country in england as many as dogs are entered in one handicap and a thousand pounds will change hands on an the result the course la Is usually yards and the races are run in heats in which three dogs compete tho the winners of 0 these trial heats run against each other until there are but three left for tho the final the ther are raced races fo for r puppies balden races handicaps and races with penalties and allowances the dogs are held at the start and run past the judge to their owners the whippet Is the fastest four legged animal in proportion to its weight that Is 1 known knon A good one will run yards in twelve seconds which Is at the rate of sixteen and two thirds yards per second A race horse running at the rate of a mile in one minute and forty seconds Is coi covering ering only seventeen and three fifths yards per second the dog weighs about twenty pounds and sad strides about fifteen feet the average stride of a race borso Is twenty one feet town topics |