Pigeon racing

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Pigeon racing is a sport in which pigeons are removed by an agreed distance from their home lofts and then released at a predetermined time. The arrival of each bird at its home loft 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 loft 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.

A Champion Racing Pigeon

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 behavior involved is not only exciting for participants and spectators, but it also served a real purpose in the past. 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 improves at the same time that 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.

Before a race, 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 an average speed, normally in yards per minute is calculated. (A different procedure is used when an Electric Timing System is being used.)

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 thereafter.

Famous pigeon flyers include: