How To Read a Greyhound Race Card

On the left is a typical greyhound race card (click to enlarge). Understanding the meaning of the various abbreviations and numbers on this card will help you to make an informed decision when deciding what dogs you would like to bet on during your visit to the track.

Along the very top of the card you get the following details:

Race Number: The order the races are run in

Time: Starting time of the race

Distance: Distance of the race

Venue: Track the race is being held at

Prize Money: Details of the prize money for both competition and heat winners

You then have the name of the particular competition or race. Some tracks will also provide form guides for the competing dogs and may also offer their own recommended bets.

Next we have the competing dogs listed in order from 1 to 6. We will now look at the information provided about the dogs in more detail.

 

Date: Date of previous run

Weight: Weight of the dog for that race

Distance: Distance the race was run over

Race Grade: This is the grade of the previous race, races are generally graded from A9 (lowest) to A0 (also known as Open Class)

Trap: Starting trap number for that race

Split Time: Time taken for the greyhound to get from the traps to a designated point,(usually finish line on the first circuit) this will help you identify which greyhound is quickest to break from the traps (known as early pace)

Splits: The greyhounds position at various points in the track over the course of the race

Finish: Position the greyhound finished in that race

By: Winning Distance or distance behind the winner

Remarks: an abbreviated description of the race (click for info on greyhound abbreviations)

Win Time: Time it took for the winner to complete the race

Trainer: The name of the person training the dog

Going: Type of surface the race was run on

Starting Price: This is the price or odds that the greyhound was with the on track bookmakers at the start of the race

Track: The venue of the race

Starts: The number of times the dog has run. followed by placings.

Closest Dog: Either the dog which won the race or finished runner up

Estimated Time: Estimated Time the dog ran the race in (actual time if winner)

DOB: Month and Year the dog was born in.

Dam: The “mother” of the dog

Sire: The “father” of the dog

Best Time: Best ever time

Dog Name: Name of the dog

Jacket Color: Color of the jacket worn by the dog. Each trap always has the same color (e.g. Trap 1 always wears red)

Trap Number: The number of the box the dog will start the race in.