4 Introduction A Race to the Finish Carlos grips the track fence The race is about to begin He tries to catch a glimpse of Rocket but Rocket and the other Greyhounds are already in the starting box Greyhound racing is illegal in most states When a dog starts losing it is often abandoned or put down Carlos wants to rescue Rocket The starting box opens The Greyhounds launch forward as they chase the lure Carlos spots Rocket He's in the middle of the pack The dogs round the final stretch They near the finish line Rocket falls behind He comes in last Carlos looks for his dad He's shaking hands with Rocket's owner Carlos shouts with joy Rocket can retire Carlos gets to bring him home
FUN FACT Greyhounds are the fastest dogs They can run up to 45 miles 72 kilometers per hour 5
6 Their Chapter 1 The Story of Greyhounds Five thousand years ago Greyhounds were the dogs of pharaohs Only royalty and nobles could own them Egyptian rulers bred Greyhounds to sprint across the desert to detect chase and capture quick desert animals for sport and food Egyptians believed pharaohs were gods chosen to rule them on Earth They also believed their rulers beautiful Greyhounds were an example of their divine power Egyptians treasured Greyhounds so much that they often showed them in hieroglyphics They also mummified and buried Greyhounds with their pharaohs Egyptian hieroglyphics Al S
7 NOBLE DOGS FOR NOBLE PEOPLE These noble looking dogs were the pets of many great leaders and royalty throughout history Cleopatra Christopher Columbus Teddy Roosevelt General George Custer Babe Ruth Betty White Queen Victoria and King Henry VIII all owned Greyhounds
