Greyhound racing sits comfortably in the UK’s top ten most-watched spectator sports. While attention might turn toward other types of racing throughout the year, there’s no denying there’s a consistent nucleus of bettors interested in greyhound betting. If you’ve been interested in the sport and would like to learn more about how to bet on greyhounds but are still determining where to begin, then look no further. Below, we’ve provided a dog racing betting guide that includes all the basics as well as how to place a wager on some of your favourite races.
How To Bet On Greyhounds – Dog Racing In A Nutshell
Greyhound racing has been a popular spectator sport for nearly 150 years. As the fastest dogs, many greyhounds are specifically bred and chosen to compete in professional racing. All tracks have a plastic rabbit or an object that the dogs will chase around the course, with the predominant surface of choice being sand.
Although grass has been used in the past, sand is now the premium choice for the top courses across both the UK and the US. There’s significant variety in greyhound racing, with tracks ranging from around 320 metres in length to just under 1,200 metres.
Dogs that are quicker over shorter periods will race on the smaller tracks, and these are the most popular greyhound betting markets you can find online. The two choices in track shape are the traditional oval shape or pear-shaped; it all depends on the course length. For owners looking to enter their dogs into a race, they must ensure that they meet vaccination requirements, are adequately trained and can be controlled, and are fed and properly maintained to compete against other greyhounds.
Greyhound Racing Grades
When learning how to bet on greyhounds, many players are confused about the information from the racecards. Here’s what you need to know. There are eight grades in greyhound racing, with novice dogs starting in Grade 8 and working their way up the ladder. A1 is the pinnacle of greyhound racing; it features the best dogs and those in the best form. At the bottom of the pile, A8 races are specifically for dogs just starting out and those that have seen better racing days.
If a dog loses three races in a row, it will be relegated down a grade. Those higher up the ladder can return to better grade classification by stringing together a few good wins, but those between grades 6-8 could fall out of the classification grades entirely, which is a worst-case scenario for many stable owners.
Lettered grades represent different types of races, so while the same numbering system applies, an A-grade also represents a standard race. Other classifications include:
– D class – sprint
– M class – marathon
– H class – hurdle
– HCP – handicap racing
– S class – staying
– P class – puppy
– B class – standard+
Greyhound Betting Markets Explained
As with many other sports betting markets, greyhound betting encompasses a range of different markets. When learning how to bet on greyhounds, players usually come across the following bets:
Winner Bet
As simple as they come, a winner bet is an outright bet on the dog that finishes first. If your dog finishes second or third, you’ll receive no payout. For this reason, the odds tend to be slightly more inviting, but that’s because the likelihood is thinned down, and if you’re somebody who hasn’t bet on greyhounds before and are just learning how to bet on dog races, this is the simplest type of bet to get your head around.
Show Bets and Trifecta/Tricast
If you think a dog will finish in the top three, but you aren’t sure where, then a show bet is your best bet. A show bet covers the top three positions on the track and is often referred to as an each-way wager.
While it is much easier to cover three positions instead of one, a trifecta bet is a special type of bet that involves guessing them in the correct order. It is a much more challenging task and offers much higher odds. If you’re a beginner bettor, we’d recommend giving a trifecta bet a wide berth until you are more comfortable with the basics.
Place Bets and Exacta/Forecasts
Right in the middle of the winner and show bets, we have place bets, which cover the top two positions in the race. Shorter odds often reflect group betting, but it helps you cover a more extensive section of the final standings and can help you make some money back from your wager.
Similar to a trifecta bet, an exacta bet follows the same principle in that you have to guess the exact position of the top two — and they’re challenging to get right. Two is hard enough, but three is pushing the boundary even further.
Superfecta Bet
Understanding how to bet on dog races doesn’t mean you have some kind of otherworldly knowledge to guess how the entire race will finish. While it would be a handy skill, it’s similar to horse racing in that rank outsiders can win; a superfecta bet is similar to an exacta and a trifecta bet, except it adds another rung to it.
A superfecta bet often returns astronomical odds as you must guess the order of the top four. If you understand how races work and consider multiple variables, and you think a cluster of four dogs will peel away, a superfecta bet might be something to explore. However, as we said in the last section, sticking to single bets to start with is probably a good move.
Top Greyhound Races To Bet On
It’s the variety of races that continue to bring in punters from all over the UK, Ireland and further afield. For those who own greyhound stables or are confident of their dog’s chances in the top events, there are a handful of top races and meets to watch during the racing calendar.
Golden Jacket Race
Next year marks half a century of elite greyhound racing at the Crayford Stadium in London. Plenty of races within London and the outer London region attract huge audiences, but the Golden Jacket is one of the top ones throughout the year. Bellmore Sally has brought home the last two Golden Jackets, and the meet next month will be a hive of activity. It is often cited as one of the top greyhound betting markets.
English Greyhound Derby
Widely considered the most prestigious event in the greyhound racing calendar, the English Greyhound Derby is a stalwart of the sport, just a few years shy of celebrating its 100th anniversary.
With £175,000 on offer for the winner, it attracts the best dog breeders and stables from right across the world. The 500-metre track has moved between Wimbledon, Nottingham and Towcester, which is where it is currently held. Bookies often state it is the busiest single race of the year for those who enjoy a flutter on dog racing.
The Melbourne Cup
Aussies have a penchant for greyhound betting too. With the highest prize money anywhere in the world, the $350,000 on offer for the winner of The Melbourne Cup can ensure that years, perhaps decades, of dog breeding and owning stables can pay off in less than 60 seconds of racing on the 515-metre track. As you’d expect, this race brings in a global audience, attracts a vast betting market in Australia and includes dogs and their trainers from every corner of the globe.
Irish Greyhound Derby
Ireland is a hotbed of racing talent, which is true in both horse and dog racing. Some of the greatest ever trainers and dogs hail from the Emerald Isle, and the most prominent race in the Irish calendar is the Irish Greyhound Derby. It takes place over a slightly longer distance than the Melbourne Cup (550m) and has a slightly smaller prize for the winner of €125,000, which is not too bad if you get your hands on it we imagine.
Factors To Consider When Placing Greyhound Bets
While there’s no way to guarantee a winner, you can evaluate specific pieces of data to make a more informed decision and potentially find value in the greyhound betting markets. Here are some of the most common analyses people make when determining how to bet on greyhounds:
Previous Form And Stats
Like any other sports bet, greyhound betting often revolves around the form of the dogs in question and how they have fared recently. Many believe that dogs can hit a rich vein of form, which will often play out in the odds, stakes and tips you’ll see from experts in the industry.
Weather
Another critical factor is the conditions in which the race takes place. Whether it’s the dense humidity of Melbourne, the boggy rain of Ireland or the crispness of the English spring, each dog reacts and performs differently depending on the weather, and understanding this is an essential element to get right before you begin placing wagers on greyhound racing.
Industry Opinions
Many trainers and ardent greyhound racing fans will have an intricate knowledge of tracks and greyhounds. Again, there’s always an element of surprise with some races, but inside industry knowledge and detailed insights from those who watch races daily can help you find a different angle for your wager.
Summary
Hopefully, this greyhounds betting guide has given you a decent insight on how to bet on greyhounds. There are plenty of markets you can explore and plenty of beginner markets that are easy to understand. Once you have more experience in greyhound betting, you can branch out into other races and types of bets, but there’s a lot here to sink your teeth into.
18+ Please Gamble Responsibly
