Motorsport Inspired Dog Names

In 1894, the sporting world had one of the greatest turns it’s ever experienced: a turn towards motorsports. And strangely enough, it wasn’t the work of some great entrepreneur or amateur racing pioneer that spawned the sport as a significant new form of entertainment, it was a French newspaper. Even more surprising was the fact that it wasn’t a traditional closed track race; it was a city-to-city race from Paris to Rouen and back again. But regardless of the format, the excitement it generated meant that six years later, circuit racing was born, largely due to significant safety hazards of open-road racing, which was quickly banned in conjunction with the rise of closed tracks. 

But automobile racing wasn’t the only kind to flourish during that time either. While tests with Greyhound racing began as early as 1876, it was originally done on a straight track and saw little subsequent development until 1912 when American Owen Patrick Smith tried steering the sport away from traditional coursing that always ended with the death of a jackrabbit, and thus invented the artificial rabbit in order to make people see Greyhound racing as they did horse racing. In 1919, he opened the first professional dog racing track complete with stands for fans in Emeryville, California. By the time the sport spread to England in 1926, it was gaining significant popularity, just in time to warrant a hero. 

Enter Mick the Miller. Although the brindle male Greyhound entered competition around the birth of the sport in Europe, Mick’s talent proved to be timeless. Even though his racing career lasted only three years, his accomplishments kept him held in the hearts of fans all over, especially those from his native Killeigh, Ireland. 

Originally raised by the trainer of Father Martin Brophy, Mick won the first few races he was entered into in Ireland. Once Brophy saw his talent, he decided to both enter the dog into the English Derby in 1929 as well as sell him while his value was best (although he did work out a deal to secure the winnings from the race should he take the victory, which he did in grand style). 

It would be the first of many, as Mick went on to win 46 of 61 total races, including being the first to win the English Greyhound Derby twice (and for a stretch of time, also the only) before an injury ended his career. He was then retired to stud, but lived a long life after his racing career, not passing away — and as much a legend then as he is now — until he was 12 years old in 1939. He remains one of the most famous Greyhounds to ever set paw on the racetrack.