Pigeon racing is a
sport in which
pigeons are removed by an agreed distance from their
home coops and then released at a predetermined time. The
arrival of each bird at its home coop is carefully recorded.
For each bird, a velocity, usually in meters per minute or
yards per minute, is calculated from the recorded time and
the distance the coop is from the release point
(distance/time). The velocities for each of the
birds in the
race are then compared to determine the order in which
they reached their homes, and a winner is declared on that
basis.
During the 1920s and 1930s successful racing
pigeons would often have their portraits painted. Notable
among pigeon artists at the time was
E H Windred.
Homing pigeons, selectively bred to be able to navigate
back to their homes from places they have never visited, are
used in these races. (Homing pigeons should be clearly
distinguished from the ornamental breed called
carrier pigeons. Carrier pigeons, as they exist today,
are poor fliers.)
As with many other sports, the gaming behavior involved
is not only exciting for participants and spectators, but it
also serves a very real purpose. Homing pigeons were
originally bred to carry messages at high speeds over long
distances. Since the birds can only carry the weight of a
few sheets of cigarette paper, and since preparation for
sending messages involves transporting the messenger pigeons
overland from their home loft to wherever the messages will
originate from, the messages generally had to be short and
important. Emergency messages pertaining to catastrophes and
to warfare were therefore the primary use to which pigeon
flight was devoted.
In order to breed messenger pigeons that were both fast
and dependable, it was necessary to carry them long
distances from home, release them at a recorded time, and
calculate the speed with which they returned. Some pigeons
would fail to return, and they would automatically be
eliminated from the breeding program.
The procedures necessary for improving the breed of
homing pigeons are almost identical to the procedures needed
for a race. All that need be added is a collection of
competitors and a prize. The homing pigeon gets improved at
the same time the pigeon racers and observers are
entertained. Some care is needed to assure that birds are
released at the same time, and that arrival times are
properly verified.
Pigeons are banded both for ease in recording and
maintaining genealogies and also so that homing pigeons that
become lost during a race and are found by helpful people
can be returned to their owners.
On Race days a rubber ring is placed on the birds foot
and the number noted by a club official. When the birds are
released and fly home the rubber ring is taken off and
"clocked into" a specially made sealed
Pigeon Racing Clock. This records the time of arrival of
the bird and a average speed, normally in yards per minute
is calculated.
Like all sports, pigeon racing also has drug problems,
although they are minor. The main drug is a steroid called
Cortisone. It works like amphetamines on young birds, and is administered with
eyedrops. After a while, it slows down the muscles of the
bird, making it useless for flying anyway.
Famous pigeon flyers include:
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