As one of the world’s most famous dog breeds, the Greyhound has gained massive popularity throughout the world. While they were once famed for their roles as hunters, it wouldn’t be until they found themselves on the racetrack did they gain worldwide popularity.
Fast, sleep, and powerful, Greyhounds have ruled the track for the better part of the last two hundred years, and have been a favourite pastime for those that partake in sports betting, an entire industry of its own.
Before they were the modern racers that we know and love so much, the breed was a companion to mankind thousands of years ago. Historians have found traces of Greyhounds in Ancient civilisations all around the world, and, for the most part, the breed has remained unchanged ever since.
Whether it’s an interest in sports betting, online slots real money Canada, or just a simple curiosity for the breed, this is the history of the Greyhound.
Earliest Records
The first of our ancestors to befriend the Greyhound was the Ancient Egyptians. Records have shown that nearly 4000 years ago, the Egyptians had learnt to domesticate the dog, using primarily as a hunting partner, but evidence also suggests that they were loyal pets as well.
Greyhounds were most often associated with the royalty and upper classes of Ancient Egypt, and some mummified Greyhound remains have been found in various Egyptian tombs.
Further down the line in Ancient Greece, the breed was mentioned more than once in Homer’s famous story, The Odyssey. Their predilection as efficient hunting dogs solidified their place at man’s side for the rest of human history.
Greyhounds In The Middle Ages
By the time of the Middle Ages, Greyhounds still featured as popular pets and hunting animals. They could mostly be found among the royalty of the time, and would join them in their hunts, but this wasn’t their only function.
Their association with the upper echelons of society made them a valuable asset for anyone worth their name and money. This is how the breed would remain for the next few centuries.
Industrialisation
It would be around the time that the British first began the age of industry, and the Greyhound still featured prominently among the rich and famous. Their status as a hunter had all but died out, and wealthy businessmen, with plenty of time on their hands, began racing their dogs against each other.
It was friendly at first, and the occasional bet would be made, but for the most part it wasn’t enjoyed on a wide scale.
These same business, however, began to realise the potential of having ordinary people watch and bet on the dog races, and it wasn’t long before their races were made more public, and people were able to take out bets and wagers on their favourite dog.
It was a massive success, and Greyhound racing made its way over the oceans, becoming popular in new countries like Australia and the United States.
Today, Greyhound racing has mostly fallen away, and is line to be banned by most countries around the world. While this has made a lot of people upset, we can still look back at the history of this amazing animal and appreciate just how much it has done for us.