Guide to Greyhound Racing
History of greyhound racing
While people have been racing greyhounds for hundreds of years, greyhound racing as we know it today is a relatively modern phenomenon. The first greyhound stadium in Ireland was opened in Celtic Park, Belfast in 1927. This was quickly followed by the opening of more tracks in Dublin and Cork. The sport continued to grow in popularity and there are now 20 tracks operating throughout Ireland. In the early 00’s The Irish Greyhound Board embarked on a rebuilding programme which saw many of the countries greyhound stadiums and catering facilities upgraded to the highest standards. This investment paid dividends and a night at the dogs has now become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Ireland.
What is greyhound racing?
Greyhound racing in Ireland consists of 6 dogs chasing after a mechanical hare over distances ranging from 325yards up to 1035 yards. The most regular distances raced are 525/550 yards. The dogs are allocated trap numbers 1 – 6 with each trap having a colour assigned to it.
1 = red , 2 = blue, 3 = white, 4 = black, 5 = orange, 6 = black & white
A mechanical hare is set in motion and just before it passes by the traps the greyhounds are released. The dogs chase the “hare” around an oval track and the first dog past the finish line is declared the winner. This video shows the final of the Irish Greyhound Derby, the richest greyhound competition in the world, run annually in Shelbourne Park, Dublin.
Guides
- How to read a race card at the dog track