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How to bet on greyhound racing

Greyhound racing is a very popular pastime around the world, but in many countries, it is seen as an amateur sport. However, in other countries, particularly New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States, greyhound racing forms a big part of the gambling industry. In this greyhound betting guide, we will look at what greyhound racing is, the main races from around the world, how to bet on greyhound racing, and the different types of greyhound betting markets available.

What is greyhound racing?

Greyhound racing is a competitive sport that usually sees six greyhounds race against each other around an oval track. A mechanical hare is released to travel ahead of the greyhounds along an outside rail to act as fake bait. The greyhounds are then sent off from stalls who ‘chase’ the bait all the way to the finish line.

The origins of greyhound racing could date back to 1876 when course racing of greyhounds took place on a straight track in Hendon, England. However, it is thought that the modern form of greyhound racing that featured a circular or oval track dates back to 1912 with the invention of the mechanical hare by Owen Patrick Smith, who opened the first professional dog racing track in California.

The popularity of greyhound racing quickly spread to other parts of the world and became hugely popular in the United Kingdom just after World War II when it was estimated that up to 75 million people attended greyhound racing in 1946, across the many tracks that had sprung up across the country.

Greyhound racing is now a popular sport in New Zealand with ten clubs operating that are affiliated to Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ).

History of Greyhound Racing

Greyhound racing quickly spread to other parts of the world and became hugely popular in the United Kingdom just after World War II when it was estimated that up to 75 million people attended greyhound racing in 1946 across the many tracks that had sprung up across the country.

Greyhound racing is now a popular sport in New Zealand with ten clubs affiliated with Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ).

Greyhound Racing as a Sport

Although some greyhound racing rules differ from country to country, most racing is the same globally. In the United Kingdom, for example, a race meeting will usually feature eight contests between six greyhounds racing around an oval track, marathon races covering distances that range from 230 to 1,200 yards (210m to 1,100m). These races generally occur over a flat track, but hurdle races also see the greyhounds race over tiny fences.

However, in New Zealand, greyhounds race across distances that include 318m, 527m, 603m and 779m, and in the United States, eight dogs compete in each race over a 10-12 race schedule.

In the vibrant and fast-paced world of Greyhound racing, the roles of trainers, owners, and breeders are pivotal to the success and welfare of these exceptional canines. Trainers are entrusted with honing the greyhounds' natural speed and agility into racing prowess. Their responsibilities encompass physical conditioning and nurturing a robust mental state in the dogs through positive reinforcement and training techniques.

On the other hand, owners play a significant role in ensuring the well-being of the dogs throughout their racing career and, often, their retirement. They provide the necessary financial support for veterinary care, food, training, and other needs. Their commitment to the dogs extends beyond the racing track, often involving decisions about adoption once the dogs' racing days are over.

Greyhound racing and betting are intrinsically linked. Enthusiasts speculate on the outcomes, injecting an element of excitement and competitiveness. Betting drives the sport's economy, providing funds for maintenance and prizes, keeping it viable in a hyper-competitive sports betting industry.

Greyhound Racing Rules

Although some greyhound racing rules differ from country to country, most racing is the same across the globe. In the United Kingdom, for example, a race meeting will usually feature eight contests between six greyhounds racing around an oval track, covering distances that range from 230 to 1,200 yards (210m to 1,100m). These races generally take place over a flat track, but there are hurdle races too that see the greyhounds’ race over very small fences.

However, in New Zealand greyhounds race across distances that include 318m, 527m, 603m and 779m, and in the United States eight dogs compete in each race over a 10-12 race schedule.

Greyhound Racing Tracks and Facilities

There's nothing quite like the excitement of venturing onto the greyhound track before a big meet - but some greyhound tracks are more special than others. Here are some great examples:

Romford Stadium, London, UK: The Romford Greyhound Stadium, a vibrant hub of thrilling greyhound racing, has a rich history that harks back to 1929. It was opened by Arthur Leggett, a renowned figure in the greyhound racing world, and it quickly became a popular destination for racing enthusiasts in the UK.
Shelbourne Park, Dublin, Ireland: This iconic venue is the epicentre of Irish greyhound racing and hosts the prestigious Irish Greyhound Derby.
Sandown Park, Melbourne, Australia: Known as the ""Melbourne Cup of Greyhound Racing"", Sandown Park is the venue for one of the richest greyhound races in the world, the Melbourne Cup.
Southland Casino Racing, Arkansas, USA: This premier venue for greyhound racing in the United States offers year-round racing events.
Cannington Greyhound Track, Perth, Australia: Hosting some of Australia's most notable greyhound racing events, Cannington is known for its state-of-the-art facilities and electric atmosphere.

There are several factors that can influence the condition of a greyhound track and consequently affect race outcomes.

Weather Conditions: The most immediate and noticeable factor is the weather. Rain, snow, or intense heat can change the texture and grip of the track surface, altering the speed and agility of the dogs.
Track Surface: The materials used in the track construction also make a significant difference. Sand tracks, for instance, may slow the dogs down, whereas a well-maintained grass track might allow for better speed and traction.
Track Maintenance: Regular maintenance of the track surface is crucial to ensure it remains in optimal condition. If the track is not properly cared for, inconsistencies in the surface can lead to unpredictable race outcomes.
Greyhound Health and Training: Lastly, the health and training regimen of the greyhounds themselves are pivotal factors. Well-trained, fit dogs with a good racing strategy are more likely to succeed, regardless of track conditions.

Greyhound Racing Around the World

Greyhound racing has a unique and colourful history across the globe. The sport first gained traction in the United States in the early 20th century.

Popularity boomed during the 1980s and 1990s, drawing large crowds to the tracks. However, the current state of greyhound racing is less glamorous, with a shift in public sentiment regarding animal welfare, leading to the closure of many tracks.

Greyhound racing has been a long tradition across the pond in the United Kingdom. The sport peaked in the mid-20th century, with tracks becoming social hubs.

Nevertheless, the decline in recent years has been notable due to increasing operational costs and growing societal awareness about animal welfare. The industry now faces modern challenges such as finding sustainable alternatives and ensuring high animal welfare standards.

Greyhound racing in other countries, such as Australia, Ireland, and Spain, varies significantly. Australia has one of the most active greyhound racing scenes, while Ireland has deeply rooted traditions in the sport. Spain is relatively new to the scene but is steadily gaining interest. Each country faces its unique challenges - from maintaining ethical standards to managing the ebb and flow of public interest.

Types of Greyhound Bets

It is good to get familiar with several greyhound betting types to enhance your enjoyment of greyhound betting. The most common is a Straight Bet, where you bet on the greyhound you think will win.

A Place Bet is when you are wagering on a greyhound to place in either the top two or top three finishing positions, and this is also called a Show Bet. A Win-Place Bet is when you put two separate bets on a greyhound, with one wager to win and the other wagers to place. If your greyhound wins, you will be rewarded with the win and place payout. If your greyhound comes second, you will win the payout on the place bet only.

There is an ''across the board'' bet, the equivalent of placing three separate bets on the same greyhound to win, place, and show. You will receive the full winnings, place, and show payouts if it wins. If it comes second, you get the place and show payout, or if they finish third, you just win the show bet payout.

You can also try an Exacta Bet, where you pick two runners to finish first and second in the correct order, or a Trifecta Bet, where you pick three runners to finish first, second and third in dog races in the correct order. This is a difficult bet to win but can pay out very well.

Understanding Greyhound Racing Odds

When it comes to betting, understanding the different odds formats is crucial. The three most common formats are Decimal, Fractional, and Moneyline odds.

Decimal Odds: These are straightforward to comprehend. The potential payout is simply due to the amount wagered times the decimal number. For instance, if you bet $10 with decimal odds of 1.5, your potential payout is $15 ($10 * 1.5).

Fractional Odds: Common in the UK and Ireland, fractional odds show the potential profit relative to the stake. A 3/1 (read ""three-to-one"") bet means that for every $1 staked, the potential profit is $3.

Moneyline Odds: Also known as American odds, positive and negative figures represent these. A positive number indicates how much profit you can make from a $100 bet. A negative number shows how much you must stake to make a $100 profit.

Calculating potential payouts based on these odds is a crucial skill for gamblers. Remember that the higher the odds, the less likely the event will occur, but the payout will be higher.

Several factors influence these odds. In greyhound racing, for instance, the form of the greyhound is a crucial determinant. This includes its recent performance, training, and overall health. Track conditions, such as the weather and surface type, also play a pivotal role. The more factors you consider, the better your chances of making a successful wager!

Factors to Consider when Betting on Greyhounds

Analysing a greyhound's form is a crucial step for any successful bettor. Recent performance data provides an essential snapshot of a greyhound's racing prowess.

Evaluating their win-loss record, racing times, and the margins of victory or defeat is important. These factors can comprehensively picture a greyhound's present racing form.

Assessing the conditions of previous races is another significant aspect of form analysis. Track conditions, such as surface type and weather, can greatly influence a greyhound's performance.

A greyhound that excels under specific conditions may struggle when those conditions change, making this understanding integral to predicting future race outcomes.

Main Greyhound Races

Greyhound racing has a long and significant history that can be traced back over a century. For anyone wanting to get into greyhound racing betting, it is useful to know about some of the biggest greyhound races in the world.

The English Greyhound Derby

First run in 1927, the English Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious greyhound race in Europe. The final usually takes place in July and has been staged at various tracks over the years, including; White City, Wimbledon, and Nottingham. It is currently held at Towcester and is now raced over 500m. Prize money for winning this race has climbed to be worth £175,000.

East Anglican Cup

The East Anglican Derby is another big Category 1 race in the UK with a prize purse of £15,000. It was first held in 1947 but has been run under rules since 1975 and is now always staged at the Yarmouth Stadium in Norfolk. The race sees some of the quickest greyhounds in Europe take part over the 462m track.

Select Stakes

The Select Stakes is an invitation only contest that was run at Wembley Stadium in London from 1952 until 1996. It moved to the Nottingham Greyhound Stadium in 1997 where it has been held since. Rated as one of the most popular greyhound racing events in the UK, there is a generous prize purse of £10,000 on offer.

The Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup of greyhound racing is the most prestigious event in Australia, and arguably the world. This is due to the huge prize purse on offer of $650,000, with $350,000 awarded to the winner. The Melbourne Cup is the final event of the three-week Superdogs series and is usually run in November over a track of 515m. It was first run at Sandown Park in 1956, where it has remained ever since.

Association Cup

Staged each April, the Association Cup is only open to Group 1 greyhounds and has a prize fund of over $250,000. The race is a stayers’ event and is held over 720m at Wentworth Park in Sydney, Australia. It moved to Wentworth Park in 1988, but it dates back to 1965 where the race was originally run at Harold Park.

Sandown Cup

Another of Australia’s richest races, the Sandown Cup, is the biggest stayers’ race you can win. Originally run in 1964, the event was known as the Wollamai Cup, but changed its name as it is run at Sandown Park in November over a distance of 1500m.

Irish Greyhound Derby

The Irish Greyhound Derby is another race with a rich history and has been run at Shelbourne Park, in Dublin, since 1932. It was first held unofficially at Harold’s Cross in 1928 before making the move. It is now run over 550m and is considered as the biggest greyhound race in Ireland.

How to bet on greyhound racing

Betting on greyhound racing is very easy to do, and if you know how to bet on horse racing, it is not too dissimilar. First, you’ll need to navigate your way to the sports page and select ‘Browse sports’. Click on ‘More’ to open more choices and scroll down until you see ‘Greyhounds’. This will give you all the greyhound betting markets that are open from around the world. Select which country’s racing you wish to bet on, and you’ll see all the events that are taking place, including both live and upcoming events.

Live Greyhound Racing

Live betting is a relatively new, but exciting way to bet on greyhound racing. It comes with advantages too, especially if you are able to watch the race you are betting on as you’ll be able to see how a runner is performing, what kind of start they made, and their live position within a race.

Placing a bet on horses or a greyhound before a race will offer you better odds, but if they have a bad start your bet could be over before it has really begun. With in-play, or live betting, you can at least see if your runner will finish.

It is easy to place a live greyhound racing bet online too. You place a bet as you would normally, but because the race is taking place live, the odds will change very quickly depending on what is happening in the race. Therefore, you have to act quickly to register your live bet.

Greyhound Betting Types

There are a number of greyhound betting types that it is good to get familiar with to enhance your enjoyment of greyhound betting. The most common one is a Straight Bet, which is where you are simply betting on the greyhound you think will win.

A Place Bet is when you are wagering on a greyhound to place in either the top two or top three finishing positions, this is also called a Show Bet. A Win-Place Bet is when you place two separate bets on a greyhound, with one wager on it to win, and the other wager on it to place. If your greyhound wins, you will be rewarded with both the win and place pay out. If your greyhound comes second, you will win the pay out on the place bet only.

There is an ‘across the board’ bet, which is the equivalent of placing three separate bets on the same greyhound to win, place, and show. If it wins you will receive the win, place, and show pay outs. If they lose and it comes second, you just get the place and show pay out, or if they finish third you just win the show bet pay out.

You can also try an Exacta Bet where you are picking two runners to finish first and second in the correct order, or a Trifecta Bet where you are picking three runners to finish first, second and third in the correct order. This is a difficult bet to win but can pay out very well.

Tips for Successful Greyhound Betting

When selecting the greyhound or greyhounds you wish to bet on, there are some things to bear in mind. Check the form and if they have been successful previously at the track they are running at. It is also important to check which box draw or trap they are coming out of to see if they have form for winning from the draw they have been given.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How fast can greyhounds run?

Greyhounds can run up to 45 miles per hour - though the speed varies on the quality of the animal.

What happens to retired racing greyhounds?

Retired racing greyhounds are typically adopted into loving homes. Plenty of charities are at hand to help rehome them, too.

Are there any age restrictions for greyhound racing?

Greyhound racing involves dogs aged between 18 months and 5 years.

How do I read greyhound racing odds?

Greyhound racing odds are read as fractions, representing win probability. For example, if you see a greyhound at odds of 3/1 to win, a $5 bet will get you three times the stake back, plus the original bet amount - meaning $20 in total.

What is the best type of bet for beginners?

A Win bet is the best for beginners, as you're betting on the dog to win.

Are there any reliable greyhound betting strategies?

Reliable betting strategies include studying form guides, the dog's age, and racing history.