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Coursing, using live rabbits, is still in effect today in certain areas and as specific events. The greatest advance however has occurred in greyhound racing with the use of the mechanical rabbit or lure. Increased growth and expansion have occurred since the early 1930s with the legalization of paramutuel betting in various states.

With the formation of the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA) in 1960 and their continued efforts to maintain the highest standards in racing and to protect the public interests, the sport should continue to grow.

Greyhound Racing is one of the most fascinating sports today and the way to enjoy it the most is to learn as much as possible about it. Were the Greyhounds to run in fenced lanes it would be far less difficult to predict the outcome. It is the free-running of greyhounds with accompanying incidents, accidents and casualties that adds the gamble to the outcome.

Greyhound Racing Programs are a combination Program and Racing Form Sheet. Each race is set up to give complete entry information and with it is usually included the record of the last six races in which each greyhound has raced (past performances).

The Past Performance lines as printed in the Program are the RACING FORM of the sport of Greyhound Racing. To find the real nature and enjoyment of the sport one has only to learn the complete makeup and meaning of all aspects of the Past Performance Charts. By their evaluation, as regards the eight greyhounds in a race, one can determine reasonably well the possibilities of the race. This learning process can not be accomplished in a short space of time. To learn, one must have an interest in the sport, and learning will produce enjoyment and results.

Each greyhound has a Past Performance record and as printed in a Program it consists of its six recent races. This covers a period of one month's racing, more or less, under normal racing frequency at a track. The period of time depends on the number of greyhounds in the grade as this has a measure of control on the frequency of racing. The six races do give a resume of the racing form of each greyhound for the past month and help in evaluating its present capabilities. Complete information on each greyhound's past performance can be obtained by back-checking through a PROGRAM LIBRARY. This allows a fan to get information on downgraded greyhounds that is not available in one program.

The occasional fan will, of necessity, have to depend on the past performance record as printed in the program. Once understood it will furnish a big percentage of the necessary information for successful betting and enjoyment of the sport. For the occasional fan the use of known handicappers' selections should not be overlooked.

Greyhounds must be registered with the National Coursing Association (NCA) in order to compete on AGTOA and other approved tracks. "Breedings must be reported to the Keeper of the Stud Book within ten days from date of breeding, and the litter must be registered and tattooed within sixty days from the date of whelping."

"All litters of puppies shall be registered and tattooed within sixty days from date of their birth, the color, the markings and distinguishing features and tattoo numbers of each puppy shall be shown by bertillon as prescribed by the Association, with the number of the litter in the left ear and with the numbers designating the month, and year that they were whelped, and with the letter identifying the individual in the right ear."

All racing greyhound Owners must have an Owner's License.

A greyhound can be owned by one person or have a number of persons under a shared ownership. When a greyhound has multiple Owners, the names of all Owners must be known and listed for that greyhound.