Dog racing is perceived as exotic in our country. The most popular competition is probably in the UK, where more than 50,000 races are held a year, and the volume of bets on dog competitions is second only to football and horse racing. Dog racing is also popular in Australia, Ireland, the USA and other countries. Historically, in these spectacular sports, interest has been fueled by cash bets. Therefore, in the modern world, online bookmakers cannot ignore dog racing. In Russia, this sport is not very popular, but, nevertheless, some people are interested in betting on it. Therefore, we explain the basics and basics to which you need to pay attention, and give small tips on how to correctly place bets on dog races.
How did dog racing come about?
For hounds of dog breeds, the instinct of pursuit and hunting is natural. Over time, hunting became an expensive and aristocratic occupation, and in some countries it was prohibited. England became the ancestor of a new sport, compensating with a kind of competition for the excommunication of greyhounds and other hunting dog breeds from the natural need to chase game.
So field trials of hound breeds with bait were transformed into modern dog racing. A live target in the form of a fox or rabbit has been replaced by a mechanical hare. At the beginning of the 20th century, a circle or an oval became the optimal trajectory for a modernized model of a mechanical hare. This is how the tracks on which dog races were held. In 1926, the British Hound Association was established in Manchester. The chance to make money by placing a bet on one of the hounds attracted more and more spectators to the races. The fame of dog racing spread throughout the UK. In 1927, more than 40 tracks were already launched there.
Dog racing rules
The essence of the competition is simple. 6 hounds run after the mechanical hare along the oval track. The greyhound who crosses the finish line first wins. To record the results of the race, the judges use a photo finish, where the dog’s nose is taken into account, and the position of the paws does not matter. Prize-winning – three first places.
Dogs start from six numbered boxes, which in English terminology are called trap. Boxes, or traps, are numbered starting from the inner side of the track from 1 to 6. Numbers – trap numbers are painted in different colors: 1st – red, 2nd – blue, 3rd – white, 4th – black, 5 1st – orange, 6th – striped black and white.
The distribution of the dogs in the boxes matters. It is determined by lot, taking into account the sympathies of a particular dog, based on its running style. Some dogs are accustomed to running closer to the inside of the track, others in the middle, and still others on the outside of the track. If a greyhound, accustomed to running on the outside of the track, runs out of the first box, then, trying to take its usual place during the run, it will cross the trajectory of other dogs. The same will happen if a hound starts from the 6th box, which is used to running closer to the inner side of the track. These features should be taken into account.
Race classification and categories
Dog races are held at various distances. Races can have different difficulty levels (with obstacles) and are divided into classes.
A-class is the most common type of races for a distance from 380 to 520 m.
This popular class is subdivided into:
from A1 to A3 – top races in which the average speed of dogs reaches 39 mph.
From A4 to A6 – middle class races, where the average speed of hounds is about 38 miles per hour.
A7-A11 – the lowest subclass, in which the average speed of dogs is 35-37 miles per hour.
D-class – races for minimum distances or sprints – from 200 to 300 m.
Classes S, M, I, E – “stayers”, from 575 to 1800 m.
H-class – steeplechase.
HP-class is a kind of races with a handicap or handicap.
OR-class is an open competition where participants from other cities or societies are invited.
T-class – trial, or test, races. They do not accept bets.
Types of dog racing bets
Today our bookmakers’ line for dog racing is not rich. Basically, they offer bets on the winner of the race and long-term bets on the winner of the competition.
However, it is highly likely that soon Russian bookmakers will start accepting bets similar to their Western counterparts – on all markets typical for such competitions.
What markets are typical for dog races?
Similarly to similar competitive processes, it is proposed to guess the various combinations of the finish line: the winner of the race, the prize (from first to third), first or second place, will take first place or not, the exact location of the top three, who will take first and second places and other special bets.
How to Bet on Dog Races: A Pre-Race Analysis Strategy
The main advantage of betting on dog races is the integrity and honesty in the conduct of the races. You can’t bribe a greyhound with money and you can’t agree. The human factor is minimized. If there is a rider in the race, then there is no human influence in the dog race. The human factor is reduced only to the organization of the competition. Doping control in official competitions also works. As a result, everything depends on the hound’s abilities and readiness.
How can a player determine the favorites in dog racing? What selection criteria work in these seemingly exotic competitions?
Distance and class of races
Everything here is like in life. Like people in athletics, dogs specialize in a certain distance. Accordingly, they are favorites at their profile distance, although they are often used at other races as well. The better should determine if the profile distance is for his hound. In addition, the specifics of the race must be determined. Are these conditions suitable for your hound? What rivals will you have to compete with?
Boxing number
In most cases, the organizers take into account the characteristics of the dog and its preferences to start in a certain trap. In turn, fans of betting on dog races should weigh: whether the greyhound starts in its place in relation to the inner side of the track. Perhaps, for some reason, the organizers put the dog “in the wrong kennel”.
Interval between races
Every living being needs rest to recover. It is up to the trainer to determine how well the dog is ready for a particular race. Trainers can also sense when their pets are in top shape. Experienced bettors who keep an eye on certain competitors can also navigate when the hound is in optimal shape. In most cases, trainers give their pets a break after 3-7 races.
Additional terms
The weather, as with other sports, can also affect the outcome of your races. It is not for nothing that the bookmaker broadcasts the weather conditions at the time of the competition. Perfect track condition in good weather conditions works for the favorites. Unfavorable conditions and any force majeure in most cases even out the situation, increasing the chances of underdogs, therefore, with changes in weather conditions, the forecasts for dog races also change.
As in most cases, in dog racing betting, the player has the advantage if he is competent and has more information about a particular hound than the bookmaker. Or it has arguments confirming that the odds in the line reflect the specified probability. The player’s profile knowledge makes it possible to determine the real balance of forces, comparing all this with the bookmaker’s assessment.