Greyhound Racing
Officially Greyhound Racing (Oval Track)
PARIMUTUEL RACING SPORT where TRAINED GREYHOUNDS race around OVAL TRACK (~500 m) chasing MECHANICAL LURE (fake rabbit or hare). Modern format invented 1919 USA by OWEN PATRICK SMITH (Emeryville, California). Peak popularity 1930s-1970s UK + USA + Australia; DECLINING in 2020s due to ANIMAL WELFARE concerns — FLORIDA banned 2021 (was #1 US state); UK reduced to ~20 tracks (from 200 in 1946). AUSTRALIA + IRELAND + NEW ZEALAND retain robust industries; MACAO CANIDROME (Asia's last commercial track) closed 2018. Related: HARE COURSING (traditional pursuit — mostly banned now).
Quick facts
Category
Traditional & Cultural Sports
Type
Individual
Players
6–8
Duration
~1 min
Where played
outdoor
Field / court
Sand + turf oval track, 400-540 m circumference, banked corners
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Ancient coursing (dog-chases-hare) documented Egyptian tombs 4500 BCE; Elizabethan Coursing Club UK 1776; modern OVAL TRACK racing with MECHANICAL LURE invented 1919 by Owen Patrick Smith in Emeryville, California; UK's first track (Belle Vue Manchester) opened 1926; Wembley Greyhounds 1927; Golden Age 1930-1975 (attendance 15M+/year UK); decline post-1980s; Australia's peak now.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Greyhound to WIN by CROSSING FINISH LINE FIRST while chasing mechanical lure.
Rules
Basic rules
TRAP DRAW: greyhounds RANDOMLY drawn into 6 or 8 numbered starting traps
Signature random trap-draw.
START: mechanical lure PASSES traps → automated GATES RELEASE → dogs sprint after lure
Signature lure-pass release trigger.
COURSE: dogs run typically 1 to 1.5 LAPS around oval track chasing lure
Signature 1-1.5 lap oval race.
WEIGHT + DIVISIONS: OPEN + GRADE A (elite) → G8 (novice); by track record + past performance
Signature grade division system.
PHOTO FINISH decides close finishes; DEAD HEAT bumps both dogs to shared placement
Signature photo-finish + dead-heat.
PARIMUTUEL BETTING: SP (Starting Price), TOTE (parimutuel pool), EXACTA/QUINELLA/TRIFECTA (exotic combinations)
Signature parimutuel betting.
DOPING CONTROL: dogs test-swabbed for banned substances; positive tests disqualify + suspend trainer
Signature anti-doping regime.
ANIMAL WELFARE (contemporary): retired-greyhound rehoming programs mandatory (SGRA in US, GAP in Australia); increasing scrutiny + track closures (Florida ban 2021, Macau ban 2018, UK reduction)
Signature welfare + rehoming push.
MAJOR RACES: UK GREYHOUND DERBY (Towcester £150K), IRISH DERBY (Shelbourne Park €125K), AUSTRALIAN CUP (Sandown), MELBOURNE CUP (Sandown A$500K), WATERLOO CUP (historic coursing, ended 2005 with UK ban)
Signature major-race circuit.
Scoring
First past post wins; photo finish resolves close calls; parimutuel payouts based on odds.
Win condition · First greyhound across finish line.
Playing area
Called
Sand + turf oval track, 400-540 m circumference, banked corners
Dimensions
Standard sprint 480 m (525 yards) — Australian 515 m; middle-distance 660 m; distance 780 m; UK Greyhound Derby 480 m sprint
Equipment
GREYHOUND: purpose-bred racing greyhound (typically 25-35 kg, 60-70 cm shoulder); registered pedigree with National Greyhound Racing Club or Greyhound Board of Great Britain
Signature racing greyhound.
STARTING TRAPS (6-8 numbered stalls with electrically-released front gate)
Signature starting traps.
MECHANICAL LURE (fake rabbit/hare on electric rail running around track's inside rail)
Signature mechanical lure.
RACING JACKET (color-coded per trap: red, blue, white, black, orange, striped, yellow, green)
Signature color-coded racing jacket.
MUZZLE (worn during race to prevent snapping at other dogs)
Signature racing muzzle.
TIMING SYSTEM (photo finish + electronic timers to 1/100 second)
Standard photo-finish timing.
TRAINING TRACKS + KENNELS
Standard training + housing facilities.
Terminology
- Trap
- Starting stall — dogs are drawn into numbered traps 1-6 or 1-8.
- Lure
- Mechanical rabbit/hare on electric rail.
- SP
- Starting Price — official betting odds at race start.
- Bump
- Interference during race — dog blocking or knocking another.
- Handler
- Person who leads dog to traps.
- GRV / GBGB
- Greyhound Racing Victoria + Greyhound Board of Great Britain — key national bodies.
- Rehoming
- Post-retirement adoption program (mandatory in most jurisdictions now).
- Coursing
- Traditional pursuit of live hare — mostly banned modern era (UK 2005 Hunting Act).
Major competitions
UK Greyhound Derby (Towcester)
annual (June) · United Kingdom · since 1927
Irish Greyhound Derby (Shelbourne Park, Dublin)
annual (Sept) · Ireland · since 1932
Australian Melbourne Cup Greyhound (Sandown)
annual (Nov) · Australia · since 1956
Australian Cup (Sandown Melbourne)
annual (March) · Australia · since 1961
American Kennel Club Coursing (lure coursing hobby)
annual · USA (non-commercial) · since 1990
Where it is played
Governing bodies
GRV — Greyhound Racing Victoria (Australia's major body)
Founded 1955 · Melbourne, Australia
IGB — Irish Greyhound Board
Founded 1958 · Limerick, Ireland
GBGB — Greyhound Board of Great Britain
Founded 2009 · London, UK
NGA — National Greyhound Association (USA)
Founded 1906 · Abilene, KS, USA
GAP — Greyhounds As Pets (rehoming, Australia)
Founded 1996 · Australia
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Mick the Miller (IE, 1929-1931 Greyhound Derby double + 46-win legend)
- Fanta Bale (AU, 2015-2016 Melbourne Cup + Derby double)
- Ballymac Ball (IE, Multi-Irish Derby 2010s)
- Rapid Ranger (GB, only quadruple UK Derby winner 2000-2001)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Greyhound racing— Wikipedia
- GBGB Greyhound Board of Great Britain— GBGB
- GRV Greyhound Racing Victoria— GRV