O.P. Smith

Mr. 0. P. Smith was known as the dreamer, the inventor, the idealist who pioneered greyhound racing. Mr. Smith invented the mechanical lure in 1919 and built one of the  first mechanical lure tracks at Emeryville, California. Other race tracks followed in all areas of the country, even to foreign countries, with Manchester being one of the first in England. Mr. Smith died   January 15, 1927, leaving behind the sport of greyhound racing to grow into today’s sixth leading spectator sport. Being the innovator of greyhound racing, it is most appropriate that Mr. Smith was selected as one of the first to be inducted into the Greyhound Hall of Fame.