Greyhound racing in the UK is a very popular night out. Lots of fun for little money. Important in this day and age. However, many people who turn to dogs for entertainment often have little idea what to look for in a winning greyhound when deciding which dog to endorse. If you fall into that category, or even if you’re a more experienced bettor looking to get into the greyhounds, here are five things to keep in mind when looking for those winners.
The six dogs in the race start from a device known as the traps. The equivalent of starting stalls in horse racing. Greyhounds may have different preferences from which numerical trap they start. For example, it might work better closer to the inside rail, so you need a low shot – trip one or two. Or he might prefer to go wide, so he would need trap five or six. If you’re in the wrong trap, it can make a world of difference.
What is the distance of the race and how have the greyhounds performed in it? The race card gives you the full form of their last six races and that includes the distance and how they ran. Does the form indicate that any dog is running a distance he is clearly not capable of or running a distance he prefers? For example, he tested himself at 660 meters and didn’t stop, but now he’s regressed to a 500-meter run and he’s in form over that distance.
Does the greyhound have what is known as an “early step”. In other words, how quickly he gets away from the traps and gets to the first turn in the lead. This can also be found on the race card and can be used as a guide to spot dogs that have an early pace. Generally speaking, dogs that walk away quickly and don’t get into trouble on the first turn can be difficult for other dogs to keep.
It is the dog running in his grade. Greyhound breeds are reckoned in grades – think handicap in horse racing. The lower the breed grade number, the higher it is in terms of the class of dog it races. For example, an A1 race consists of faster dogs than an A5 race. Greyhounds are graded up and down in breeds based on their performance and race times. A dog regressing to a grade that he has shown form from a grade that he is not fast enough for can be a good indicator.
Does the dog have the potential to improve? Greyhounds have relatively short racing careers. They can start at eighteen months of age and a long career would see them competing until they are around five years old. Young dogs that are still developing may do better, although that may taper off after around three and a half years of age. Try to look for dogs that may still be improving and moving up in grades.
One particular point to note about breeding potential is how long it has been since a bitch (female greyhound) came into heat. They can’t race for obvious reasons when they’re in season and it can take a few weeks for them to get back to their best shape after coming back from the season. The race card is again your friend here as it will show when a bitch was last in season. Look for those that are racing about four months into the season. I have had a few greyhound bitches myself and I know this is a big factor.
So there we are. A quick look at five important factors to help you narrow down the field when you have a night out with the dogs. All the information you need is on the breed card which will show you all the relevant information and form for the last six breeds of each dog. Greyhound racing can be a great night out with friends, although of course if you bet, never use money you can’t afford to lose.
