Ever thought that greyhound racing was a tad monotonous? Well, would legging-up a few monkey jockeys spice things up for you?

Because that's exactly what happened starting in the late 1920's, when monkey riders - complete with jockey silks, stirrups and tiny saddles - could be seen booting home greyhound winners in a select few countries, including in Australia!

"The monkeys rode the greyhounds at Mascot on Saturday night as though they had the judgment of humans... They were smarter than the smartest circus acrobats on horseback." Referee, 28 December 1927

Much of the greyhound jockey craze originated in California, having been the brainchild of Loretta and Charles David. The couple imported twelve baby capuchin monkeys from Panama at great expense, before raising them and socializing them in the company of greyhounds. Once they had bonded with their canine pals, the monkeys were painstakingly taught to ride the dogs.

The monkeys took to the racing with such relish that they actually became highly competitive beasts during races, even being known to use their own tails as an in-built whip to urge an extra effort out of their mount!

Bananas and peanuts were always on hand to reward the winning hoops, so there was incentive enough not to hook one come raceday! Capuchin monkeys are, however, considered the most intelligent of the New World monkey species, so who's to say a few weren't ‘got at' by any enterprising race-fixers out there...

The monkey jockey phenomenon was very well received across the United States, and indeed eventually found its way to the dog tracks of Australia, including at Newcastle and Mascot. Aussie promoters even added hurdles and water-jumps for dog and monkey-rider to negotiate.

It remains unclear if any of the monkey jockeys ever fired in a protest for interference. Who knows, they might just have screeched their way through some more compelling arguments than those of a few 'frivolous' jocks we've seen in the stewards rooms over the years!

Articles: Advertiser, Hurstbridge, Victoria. 27 April 1928 (left); The Daily News, Perth, Western Australia. 17 May 1938 (above).

Newspaper articles found in Trove reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Australia.

Title image:

Monkeys ride on the backs of greyhounds as they jump the hurdles at Shepherds Bush Greyhound track, Mascot, Sydney, 1928 by George McQuillan, courtesy of National Library of Australia's Pictures Collection.