PADDOCK, or Paddock-Course, a piece of ground encompassed with poles or a wall, and taken out of a park, for exhibiting races with greyhounds, for plates, wagers, or the like.
A paddock is generally a mile long, and a quarter of a mile broad: at the one end is a little house where the dogs are to be entered, and whence they are slipped; near which are pens to inclose two or three deer for the sport. Along the course are several posts, viz. the low post, which is 160 yards from the dog-house and pens; the quarter of a mile post, half-mile post, and pinching post; besides the ditch, which is a place made to receive the deer, and preserve them from farther pursuit. And near this place are seats for the judges chosen to decide the wager.
The keepers, in order to slip the dogs fairly, put a falling collar upon each, slipped round a ring; and the deer being turned loose, and put forward by a teaser, as soon as he is arrived at the low-post, the dog-house door is thrown open, and the dogs slipped. If now the deer swerve so much, as that his head is judged nearer the dog-house than the ditch before he arrive at the pinching-post, it is no match, and must be run over again three days after: but if the deer runs straight beyond the pinching-post, then that dog which is nearest when he swerves, or is blanch'd by any accident, wins the match; but if no such swerve happens, then the match is won by the dog who first leaps the ditch.