What is Greyhound Racing and Why’s It So Popular?

While horseracing has always been known as “The Sport of Kings” greyhound racing has never had such a grand title. But that’s not to say that it hasn’t brought just as much pleasure to its fans over the years.

Like horseracing, and steeple chasing, the true origins of the sport lie in hunting. Whereas the former developed from hunting foxes with hounds, the latter was a development of coursing in which prey ranging from rabbits and hares to deer were hunted by fleet-footed dogs. One of the most favored breeds for this was the greyhound, capable of great speed over relatively short distances.

As early as 1876, contests were being held in the UK in which greyhounds were tested over a straight 400-yard course chasing a false hare. However, it remained a minority-interest sport very much.

It wasn’t until 1919 that the sort of greyhound racing we know today was first introduced. A sporting promoter called O.P. Smith built an oval track in Emeryville, California and started to hold regular meetings.

Its origins in the UK

However, it failed to really grip the imagination of Americans and it was only after the sport reached Britain in 1926 that it really started to take off.

The very first track to open was at Belle Vue in Manchester and soon afterwards, more opened in White City and Haringey in London. Soon many others sprang up across the country and, at its peak in the 1940s, there were around 300 tracks throughout the UK.

Despite a decline in overall interest with just 22 stadiums in use today, it remains a very popular sport with much of the betting on greyhound betting carried out online – we’ll get on to details about this aspect of the sport a little later on.

The ins and outs of racing

Originally, there were eight dogs in a race but in recent times this has been reduced to just six.

Each wears a coloured jacket to designate its number in the race with number one on the inside lane and six on the outside. At the start of each race, the dogs are loaded into their traps, a bell sounds to signify that the mechanical hare is running and, just after it passes the traps, they spring open. Then there are a couple of laps of frantic activity as the dogs’ race around the track in pursuit of the hare.

Often the result of the race isn’t decided until after the final bend when a dog that has seemingly been struggling can suddenly come from nowhere to take the lead.

At the end of the race, the hare is guided into a box to prevent the dogs from ripping it to pieces, often leaving the runners pacing around in confusion as to what has happened to it!

Betting on the dogs

There are a wide number of bets that can be made in each race. As with horseracing, the dogs are given odds before the race starts and because there are only ever six dogs in a race these tend to be over a far narrower range than with horses.

Punters can bet for a straight win but a more popular bet which can generate better odds is the win double or treble which tries to predict which will be the first two or three dogs over the line.

In general, the stakes laid on dog racing tend to be lower than in other forms of gambling which is one of the reasons why it remains to be so very popular. Another great selling point of a night at the greyhounds is just how quickly the races take place. The average meeting has a total of eight races with one starting every 15 minutes.

Because they range from 250 metre sprints to 1 km marathons there’s great variety over an evening’s meeting and, even if you’re unlucky in one race, another will be another chance to win before long.

A real night out

Another appeal of a night at the greyhounds is that the stadia tend to have good restaurants where one can enjoy a three-course meal while attendants collect your bets from the table.

What is Greyhound Racing and Why’s It So Popular?

Alternatively, you can bet online if that’s the preferred option.

But surely the main appeal for many people of greyhound racing is its sheer accessibility. Unlike some horserace meetings, there’s no need to dress up in smart clothes and the entrance fees tend to be very low too.

For the breeders, owners and trainers of the dogs, it’s something that can be enjoyed without the huge investment needed in horseracing. There are even equivalent titles to try and win with the most famous being the Greyhound Derby. Held in Nottingham each year with the winner picking up no less than £50,000 it’s the pinnacle of the sport.

There’s also the chance for some dogs to shine in the sport. The best ever example is Mick the Miller who was one of the earliest stars of the sport winning the Derby in 1929 and 1930 as well as recording wins in the St Leger and the Cesarewitch too.

While there may not be any dogs of his calibre racing today, nor the crowds to come and watch, greyhound racing still goes from strength to strength and has a devoted following. For the unconverted, a night spent watching these four-legged marvels could be all that’s needed to bring them on board too.

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