From the history of British racing: cheetahs vs greyhounds

The inaugural official greyhound races in Great Britain took place in 1926 at the Belle Vue stadium. At a time when television, computers, and cell phones didn't exist—when letters were penned on paper and delivered by uniformed postmen—greyhound racing quickly captivated the public's interest, becoming a significant social event in British life. It offered a delightful way to spend evenings with friends, and its popularity skyrocketed, seemingly unstoppable.

However, everything changed in October 1929 with the stock market crash and the onset of the Wall Street crisis, leading into a decade marked by the Great Depression that affected numerous countries, including Great Britain. These were tough times as businesses shuttered and unemployment rose. Leisure activities fell by the wayside, and greyhound racing venues saw dwindling crowds. At that time, England boasted 77 licensed racecourses, with 30 located in London alone—now only two remain. While early races attracted large audiences, the challenging 1930s saw stands barely filled with a few dozen spectators. For the racing industry to endure, it required not only financial support and a revitalised audience, but also innovative ideas to rekindle public interest.

Original idea by Archer Legett

On Saturday 11 December 1937, Romford Stadium hosted a night of racing that will never be forgotten, with greyhounds competing against cheetahs. England had never seen anything like it before.

Background

Archer Legett was the visionary founder and heart of Romford Racecourse in London. In the late 1920s, as dog racing was beginning to gain traction in Britain, Legett hosted whippet races in the makeshift tracks behind his home in Collier Row, Essex. These events attracted crowds eager to place bets and enjoy the excitement, igniting a passion for the sport. Inspired by this success, Legett acquired a location on London Road and established the Romford Racecourse, which quickly gained popularity. However, just two years later, the landowner, recognizing the revenue generated by the races, raised the rent. In response, Legett purchased a new plot of land on the opposite side of London Road and relocated the racecourse to its current site.

How cheetahs came to Romford

History does not provide details on how and when Archie Leggett first crossed paths with Gander Dower, a passionate lover of cheetahs and seasoned traveller. These two innovative individuals conceived an exciting idea: to organise a unique competition featuring runners of different species. This event promised to be a fresh attraction for Londoners, sure to draw a crowd. 

In December 1936, leveraging his connections in Kenya, Gander Dower arranged for the arrival of 12 domesticated cheetahs to the UK, just a year before the much-anticipated race. However, there were delays in securing the necessary permits from authorities. Animal rights activists, alerted to the cheetahs' arrival, raised concerns, fearing they would be used for hunting foxes and hares, which they deemed cruel. Following a brief investigation led by Sir John Simon, then the Home Secretary, the true purpose behind the cheetahs' arrival was clarified, and the required permissions were eventually approved. Upon their arrival, the cheetahs underwent six months of quarantine followed by an additional six months of training at Staines and Harringay stadiums, under the guidance of Australian coach Ruby Henderson.

Greyhounds vs Cheetahs

The idea of ​​bringing greyhounds and cheetahs together was frankly unsportsmanlike and populist. It was all started in order to save the racetrack from collapse and attract the public.

Just comparing the speeds and muscle mass of a greyhound and a cheetah, you can see that these are animals belonging to different speed and weight categories, it would be incorrect to put them in the same fight.

The maximum speed that a cheetah can reach when catching up with prey is 114 km/h. It is believed that no other animal runs faster than a cheetah.

The greyhound was bred to run, and compared to other animals, its heart is larger than normal, its red blood cell count is elevated, and its thyroid hormone levels are lower. All this allows it to reach a top speed of 72 km/h, but it is still no match for the cheetah.

Greyhounds weigh between 27 and 32 kg, while the cheetah is noticeably larger and weighs between 34 and 54 kg. Of course, few people thought about this, and so many people came to watch the exotic event that there was not enough space for everyone. After the race, it was talked about for a long time, Romford Stadium was on everyone's lips, its attendance after that night increased significantly. The goal of the race organisers was achieved.

The Challenges of Training Cheetahs

Cheetahs, while conditionally domesticated, remain wild creatures, driven by a desire for freedom, unruliness, and a sense of pride. They won't chase after a simple rag toy—only the thrill of the hunt would suffice. To entice them, a piece of raw rabbit meat was attached to an artificial hare, providing a target they could pursue.

Another challenge in their training was the complete absence of competitive instinct among the cats. If two cheetahs chased the hare and one pulled ahead, the other would simply come to a stop and rest. Their reasoning was clear: only the first catch would lead to a reward, and since there wouldn’t be enough for everyone, there was little motivation to continue running.

Additionally, it was crucial to time the release of the "hare" with precision. If it was released too early and the cheetahs realised they couldn’t catch it, they would lose interest and not pursue. Conversely, if the hare was released too late, the cheetahs would swiftly catch up, leading to an early demise for the prey.

How the race was organised

The publicity for the upcoming event warmed up the crowd.

Most of those present had never seen a cheetah before. The interest and enthusiasm of the spectators was incredible. Illegal bets were made on the races involving the big cats, although betting on these races was officially prohibited.

First day

On that rainy December day leading up to the races, the muddy track posed some challenges, but it didn’t deter the excitement. The crowd was thrilled to learn that a female cheetah named Helen would be competing in the first race, and she quickly earned the title "Queen of the Track." Proving worthy of the acclaim, she shot out of the starting box like a bolt of lightning, chasing the artificial hare and leaving her greyhound competitors in her dust. In an impressive display, she completed the 355-yard race in just 15.86 seconds, setting a new track record and igniting fervent cheers from her newfound fans.

In the second race, two male cheetahs, James and Gussie, took their positions. This race featured obstacles, but Gussie created a stir by behaving "unsportsmanlike" during the first turn. Instead of leaping over the outer fence, he jumped over the inner fence, cutting the corner to catch up with the artificial hare. Despite his questionable tactics, the audience admired his cleverness and competitive spirit, applauding his determination to win.

Second day

A week later, on the following Saturday, there was a third race involving cheetahs. This time it was a handicap race. The dogs were given a head start of 20 to 40 yards, depending on their abilities. There were even more people than on the first day of racing. Not a single dog managed to finish first, the handicap was ridiculous, and the advantage of the big cats was obvious. 

This was the last cheetah race in England. The planned races at Harringay Stadium never took place. It is believed that local residents, worried about the silent threat posed by the big cats, insisted on stopping these unsafe races. They were joined by the owners of other London stadiums, because to compete with Romford they would have to organise something even more grandiose, such as giraffe races. And this would be expensive. The position of Romford Stadium was significantly strengthened after all this history.