Improvements in Race Tracks for Dogs and mor
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899.
Improvements in Race Tracks for Dogs and mor
I, MICHAEL WALSH, Engineer, of 151, East 72nd Street, in the City of New York,
(Borough of Manhattan), County and State of New York, United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a race track for testing the speed of
dogs and other animals in such a manner that the animals, during the run, are com-
pletely unencumbered by harness, riders, or the like, so as to fully bring out the.
animals' speed qualities.
The invention consists principally of a race track for animals to run in and a
support for a dummy hare or other object movable in the said track by mechanical
means, in view of the animals following in the track.
In a field suitably selected for a race course is formed one or more race tracks prefer-
ably arranged concentric to each other and of an oval, circular, or other form, the
tracks being enclosed by suitable fences. Between the race tracks is arranged a
railway track for a motor to travel on, the said railway track being preferably pro-
vided with an underground trolley system for delivering electricity to the apparatus
in the motor so as to propel the latter at a desired speed around the railway track.
From the motor extend poles in transverse directions which reach over the fences
into the race tracks a suitable distance above the ground thereof, and from the ends
of the poles extend downward and rearward ropes, rods, or poles respectively con-
nected at their lower ends with supports respectively, made of rubber, canvas, or
other suitable material, preferably flexible so as to readily conform to the undulations
of the ground in the race tracks. On each of the supports is secured a dummy hare
or like object in plain view of the dogs or other animals following the support in the
tracks. The race course is also provided with a judge's stand and a grand stand for
spectators, sufficiently elevated to enable the persons seated therein to watch the
running of the animals in the race track.
It is evident that a race course may be built with but one track and it is also
evident that other suitable mechanical means may be employed for pulling the
dummy support rapidly along in the track for the animals to follow, with the hare
or dummy in plain view of the animals. The motor is arranged in such a manner
that its speed is controlled from the judge's stand or other place, so as to always have
the support in advance of the following dogs.
In starting the race the dogs (preferably greyhounds) entered for testing their
speed, are held in the track at the starting point, with the dummy support and
motor somewhere in advance and moving, so that upon releasing the animals they
follow the dummy around the track to the starting point, it being understood that
greyhounds, for instance, follow the dummy by sight and not by scent.
October 1808

page_text: Improvements in Race Tracks for Dogs and other Animals.
I, MICHAEL WALSH, of 151 East 72nd Street, in the City of New York, (Borough
of Manhattan) in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a race track for testing the speed of dogs
and other animals in such a manner that the animals, during the run, are completely
unencumbered by harness, riders or the like, so as to fully bring out the animals'
speed qualities.
The invention consists principally of a race track for animals to run in, and a
support movable in the said track by mechanical means, and adapted to support
a dummy hare or other object, in view of the animals following in the track.
The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of
the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the
claim's.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this
specification in which the figure is a perspective view of the improvement.
In a field suitably selected for a race course, is formed one or more race
tracks A, A¹, preferably arranged concentric to each other, and of an oval, circular
or other form, the said tracks being enclosed by suitable fences or railings B, B¹
and B2, B3, respectively, as plainly indicated in the drawing. Between the tracks A, A¹
-that is, between the fences B1, B2 is arranged a railway track C, for a motor D to
travel on, the said railway track being preferably provided with an underground
trolley system, for delivering electricity to the apparatus in the motor D, so as to
propel the latter at a desired speed around the track C.
From the motor D extend poles E, E¹ in transverse directions over the fences B¹, B²,
which reach over into the tracks A, A¹ a suitable distance above the ground thereof,
and from the ends of the poles E, E¹ extend downward and rearward, the ropes, rods
or poles F, F, respectively, connected at their lower ends with supports G, G¹,
respectively, made of rubber, canvas or other suitable material, preferably flexible,
so as to readily conform to the undulations of the ground in the tracks A, A¹ and the
grass and other vegetable matter therein.
On each of the supports G is secured a dummy hare H, or like object, in plain view
of the dogs or other animals following the support in the tracks, as indicated in the
drawing. The race course is also provided with a judge's stand I, and a grand stand J
for spectators, sufficiently elevated to enable the persons seated therein to watch the
running of the animals in the race tracks.
As shown in the drawing, two tracks are employed, but it is evident that a race
course may be built with but one track, and it is also evident that other suitable
mechanical means may be employed, for pulling the dummy support G rapidly along
in the track for the animals to follow, with the hare or dummy in plain view of the
animals.
The motor D is arranged in such a manner that its speed is controlled from the
judge's stand, or other place, so as to always have the dummy support in advance of
the following dogs.
In starting the race, the dogs (preferably greyhounds) entered for testing their
speed, are held in the track at the starting point, with the support G and motor D
somewhere in advance and moving, so that upon releasing the animals they follow
the dummy carried on the support, around the track to the starting point, it
'

page_text: being understood that greyhounds, for instance, follow the dummy by sight and
not by scent.
Now it is evident that by the arrangement described, the animals are completely
unencumbered by harness, riders or the like, and hence are free to follow at their
utmost speed the fleeing object in front of them, to fully bring out their speed
qualities.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. A race track for dogs, comprising a continuous track for the animals to run
on, a support movable in the said track and adapted to support a dummy hare or
other object in view of the animals following in the track, and mechanical means
located outside of the track and connected with the said support to move the latter
around in the track in advance of the following animals, substantially as shown and
described.
2. A race track for dogs, comprising a track for the animals to run on, a support
movable in the said track, and adapted to carry a dummy hare or other object, in view
of the animals following on the track, and a motor mounted to travel and connected
with the said support, to move the latter around in the track in advance of the
following animals, substantially as shown and described.
3. A race track for dogs, comprising a track for the animals to run on, a railroad
track adjacent to but separated from the said race track, a motor mounted to
travel on the said railroad track, and a support carried by the said motor, and
arranged to be dragged along in the said race track, substantially as shown and
described.
4. A race track for dogs, comprising a track for the animals to run on, a railroad
track adjacent to but separated from the said race track, a motor mounted to travel
on the said railroad track, and a support carried by the said motor, and arranged
to be dragged along in the said race track, the said support being of a flexible
material, and adapted to carry a dummy hare or other object, substantially as shown
and described.
5. A race track for dogs, comprising a track for the animals to run on, a flexible
support adapted to be dragged in the said track, a motor mounted to travel adjacent
to the track, a pole carried by the said motor, and a connection between the said
pole and the said support, substantially as shown and described.
Dated 10th 1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.