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An Introduction to Greyhound Racing and Betting

Greyhound racing is a form of entertainment that dates back to the 1700s. The sport, however, was not presented to the UK in its current form until 1926. Greyhound racing was introduced by Charles Munn, an American who played a significant role in founding the Greyhound Racing Association. The inaugural British race took place at Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester. It was around the same time that betting on dog racing became popular in the UK.

A greyhound race involves dogs chasing an artificial hare/windsock, competing with one another to finish the race first. There are usually no more than six dogs participating in a greyhound race, with the average course being around 480 metres in distance. The dogs will blast from their starting positions to pursue the hare. There are, however, different greyhound race classifications. These are Sprints, Middle-distance races, Stayers and Marathons.

The enjoyment greyhounds find in racing is influenced by their physical characteristics. Their remarkable athletic abilities stem from a blend of traits, including an aerodynamic body. This distinct, streamlined shape minimises air resistance during their sprints.

While greyhound racing takes place daily, there are several key events that draw in the most spectators and punters. The most significant of these is the English Greyhound Derby. This race is held at Towcester Greyhound Stadium in Northamptonshire, England. Close to 200 greyhounds compete over a course of six weeks, with the winner of the final taking home a huge £175,000 in prize money.

Other key events include:

• The Golden Jacket at Crayford – 24th February
• The Laurels at Perry Barr – 27th April
• The Champion Hurdle at Crayford – 20th July
• The Gold Cup at Monmore – 24th August
• The Oaks at Perry Barr – 26th October
• The Grand National at Hove – 10th November
• The Gold Collar at Crayford – 23rd November
• Puppy Derby at Towcester – 24th November
• All England Cup at Newcastle – 27th December

Greyhound Bet Types

Greyhound racing has its own set of popular bet types, given the unique nature of the sport. Below, we look at the most commonly-placed dog-racing bets:

Win Bet: With there being just six or so dogs in a race, the win bet is very popular and can offer some of the most attractive betting odds. As the name suggests, a win bet involves choosing the outright winner of the race.

Each-way Greyhound Bet: An each-way bet is another bet type popular among greyhound bettors. When placing an each-way bet, the punter essentially places two bets: a bet on a dog to win the race and another for it to be placed. This is a great bet if there is more than one dog you fancy in a race.

Forecast: A Forecast greyhound bet is a very straightforward bet type. When playing a greyhound Forecast, a bettor will need to predict which horses will finish in first and second place and in what order.

Reverse Forecast: The reverse forecast is very similar to a standard forecast bet but with slightly less risk. This is because a bettor can predict the dogs to finish first and second in a race but in any order.

Tricast: A tricast is a bet type where punters predict the first three dogs to cross the finishing line in the correct order.

Combination Tricast: A combination tricast is a bet where the punter makes a selection on the first three to finish in a race. These differ from a standard tricast as the three dogs can finish in any order.

Top Betting Sites for Greyhound Bets

The majority of betting sites that offer horse racing will offer greyhound betting markets, too. This means UK punters can choose from a pretty long list of greyhound betting sites when looking to make a prediction on the dogs. Our recommended bookies for greyhound bets are:

Coral
William Hill
Interbet
Nags Bet
Betfred
Bet365
10Bet
Unibet
BetUK
Parimatch

Virtual Greyhound Racing

In recent years, more and more betting sites have started to list "virtual" betting markets. Betting on virtual events became hugely popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when most sporting events were cancelled.

Betting on virtual greyhound racing has remained popular for many reasons. Virtual greyhound races offer fast-paced, easily accessible, and continuous betting opportunities regardless of location or time. This is for those who enjoy gambling and the thrill of racing without the constraints of live events! Betting sites featuring virtual greyhound bet markets include Ladbrokes, William Hill, Interbet Sportsbook and many more!

• What runs faster, a horse or a greyhound?
  Greyhounds, generally speaking, run faster than horses in a sprint as they have the ability to accelerate incredibly quickly. However, in a longer race, a horse would have an advantage, with horses able to reach around 55mph.
• Is it just greyhounds that run in dog races?
  Yes. Greyhounds are known for being the fastest breed of dog, making them suited to the racing environment.
• Can I get free bets to use on my greyhound bet?
  Yes! Many greyhound betting sites offer free bets that can be used to place greyhound betting selections. However, only a select few bookies create offers specifically for those betting on the dogs. To uncover free bet bonuses that are applicable for greyhound bets, you may need to read through the terms and conditions of many sports betting offers to see if greyhounds is an accepted or restricted market.
• What number wins the most in a greyhound race?
  According to data from Oxford Stadium, the dog in position 1 enjoys a 60% win rate and is placed 70% of the time. Please note that, like all betting strategies, this is not an exact science.