Whippet: The Encyclopaedia of Sport, Volume 1 1897

Whippet 

This is a dog originally produced by crossing with a terrier and greyhound sometimes with the Italian greyhound It is now a distinct variety which breeds true to type and in fact is a pocket edition of the ordinary greyhound He may weigh anything between 10 lbs and 25 lbs not larger than the latter weight and any colour is allowable The Whippet is much in request by the lower middle classes for running purposes either to course rabbits or to take part in short distance races the usual course being 200 yards The competitors are handicapped according to their height or weight A dog 20 lbs weight has been known to cover the full distance of 200 yards in 12 seconds The sport is very popular in Lancashire Yorkshire and in the north of England but the attempts to bring it into prominence in the southern counties have not been altogether successful The competitors run on a cinder path and are started by a pistol On the mark they are held by a friend of the trainer the latter runs in front of the dog up the course dangling a pigeon's wing a towel or anything attractive to encourage the dog and the judge at the goal decides each race promptly and expeditiously In coursing matches rabbits are used twenty one or thirty one trials being run the kill only scoring In the large handicaps of this kind each dog runs from three to five rabbits with his opponent and it will be seen that stamina as well as pace is required in a Whippet to be a champion at rabbit coursing In some districts the Whippet is known as the Snap Dog.

The Encyclopaedia of Sport, Volume 1

edited by Henry Charles Howard Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, Hedley Peek, Frederick George Aflalo
1897