How To Bet On Greyhounds: A Comprehensive Guide

Greyhound racing is a fast paced and exciting sport that has a rich history.  The races can provide a combination of speed, strategy and sometimes, mayhem.

After all, with no jockey on their back, they do what they want to and don’t think about collisions. 

Betting on greyhound racing can be a little more frantic than horse racing betting as the markets tend to jump around a lot quicker and of course, the races are considerably shorter compared to horses.

This, of course, adds to the excitement of the races and can make betting on them good fun.

This article will guide you through everything you need to know about greyhound racing. You'll learn about the types of races, the types of bets and how to place them, plus much more.

NOTE - For those of you who like to bet on the horses, some of the information in this article will be familiar.

A Brief History Of Greyhound Racing

The origins of greyhound racing stem back to coursing, which involved dogs chasing live hares and sometimes other live game animals.  The difference with greyhound hunting is they rely on sight rather than smell.

This moves us on to 1912 when American Owen Smith, introduced oval race tracks and a mechanical hare in an attempt to stop live animals being killed.  Within 7 years, Smith introduced the very first professional greyhound racing track in California.

It wasn’t until 1926 that the modern form of greyhound racing was introduced to Britain by a different American, Charles Munn. 

This brings us to the modern format we know today which is very popular in the United States, Australia, Ireland and the UK.

Greyhound Racing Basics

It’s important that you know at least the very basics of greyhound racing before you place any bets. This isn’t as important if you’re just a recreational bettor that does it for fun on the odd day out.

Terminology

If you look closely enough, greyhound racing is riddled with terminology that looks like double dutch. 

Post Time: This is the time that the race starts.

Trap:  Similar to stalls in horse racing, this is the ‘box’ number that the greyhound will start the race in. There’s usually 1 to 6 traps.

Distance: This is the total distance of the race and is usually displayed in metres.

Grade: This is the class of the race and is based on the competitors abilities

That’s the basic terminology covered off but there’s a labyrinth of abbreviations used in the world of greyhound racing. Equipped with this level of information, you’ll be in a position to go to the dogs, literally of course!

Types of Greyhound Racing Bets

Win Only Bets: 

Also known as a Single Bet, this is by far the simplest type of bet to place.  You are only betting on the greyhound to win the race.  If the dog you back loses, so does your bet.   

Some bookies offer price boosts on some, if not all of the races so it’s worth keeping an eye out for those. Another feature offered by some bookies is Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG).

The betting markets on greyhounds don’t really do much until minutes before the race but as soon as they start moving, things shift very quickly. Betting on a dog early can work to your advantage or it can go against you.

If the odds plummet after you’ve placed your bet then you’re getting a good value bet. However, sometimes it can go the other way meaning you missed out on higher odds. If the latter does happen, that’s where Best Odds Guaranteed can help.  Should your dog win the race, the bookie will pay at the starting price of that dog and the starting price was higher than the odds you backed at, happy days. 

Each Way Bets:

An Each Way bet is actually two bets rolled into one. Your first bet is backing the dog to win and the second bet is backing the dog to place which means to finish in a set number of positions in a race.  Because there aren’t many competitors in greyhound races, this usually applies to two places. 

If your dog places then you will be paid out at a fraction of the winning odds. The fractional payout and places offered are dependent on the number of dogs running. Be aware that when you place an each way bet your stake will be doubled when you tick the each way option, so a £10 e/w bet will actually be a £20 total stake.

Bet Multiples:

As with horse racing, there’s a plethora of bet multiples that can be placed on greyhound racing. These types of bets include Doubles, Trebles, Lucky 15, Heinz and Yankee bets.  

They can range from a Double bet that includes 2 dogs in 1 bet all the way up to a Goliath bet that has 8 dogs to form a combination of 247 bets.   

These types of bets are for more advanced punters though so only consider these when you have a good grasp of greyhound betting.

Understanding Greyhound Betting Odds

Betting odds are allocated to greyhounds to indicate the likelihood they have of winning a race. The lower the odds, the more likely the dog is to win the race.  That said, don’t take the odds as gospel as there’s plenty of times when longer odds competitors win.

Point to note - Odds are used as an indicator of a greyhound's chances of winning but aren’t always accurate.  Bookies make their money from adding a house edge which means the odds they offer aren’t usually an accurate representation of it happening. Always keep that at the back of your mind when looking at greyhound odds.

Odds format - customers have the option of using fractional, decimal and American odds with most bookies.

• Fractional - This is the standard and more traditional format used in the UK betting industry. They will come in the format of 5/1 which means for each £1 you bet, you can win £5. When there’s a race favourite, sometimes they will be odds on. This can look like 1/2 which means for every £2 you stake, you can win £1.
• Decimal - Decimal odds are used more than you might think and that’s mainly down to the fact that they’re easier to understand and calculate than fractional odds. You need to multiply your decimal odds by your bet stake to work out your return. For example, at odds of 5.0 (4/1 in fractions), a winning bet would see returns of £5 from a £1 stake. As this includes your original stake, your profit would be £4. 
• American - also known as Moneyline odds, these aren’t as straight-forward as fractional or decimal odds. Thankfully, American odds are rarely used in UK betting. The first to note is that they’re shown as a + or a - and are based on stakes of $100. As an example, odds of +200 would mean that for each $100 you stake, your profit will be $200. On the other hand, odds of -200 tells us that you need to place $200 to make a profit of $100.

As Well as indicating a greyhound's chances of success, the odds also provide the information needed to calculate your potential winnings. For example, a £10 stake on a greyhound at odds of 7.0 (6/1) and it managed to win, you would get £70 (£60 profit) back from the bookie. 

Best Odds - Odds on specific greyhounds won’t always be the same across all bookies.  Some offer boosted prices and some are slower to react than others if there’s news or big sums lumped on a dog. 

A great website for checking odds is Oddschecker. If you have done a bit of research and like the look of a greyhound, it’s worth having a look to see which bookmaker is offering the best odds.

Here’s an example of Oddscheckers coverage of a greyhound race at Oxford Greyhound Race Stadium.

As you can see, you are given the odds across various bookies and it’s no shock that Bet365 are the most generous with their odds. In fact, the favourite in this example, Clonkeen Mac has also been boosted by Bet365 to 3.25. 

Clearly, your average punter doesn’t have accounts with all the bookies unless you’re a matched bettor.  However, using odds comparison sites like this certainly helps you see where the best odds are.

Types Of Greyhound Races

Not too dissimilar to horse racing, greyhound racing uses a grading system to match dogs of similar skill levels in order to make the races as fair as possible.  This also allows the greyhounds to move between the grades based on the record and performances.

The system is just based on racing distance alone, it also caters for the tracks being used, a dog's experience and if obstacles (hurdles) are involved. 

Let’s cut to the chase and explain the graded races:

Middle Distance Races - Grades A and B

The vast majority of greyhound races fit into this category.  They cover race distances of between 380 to 500 metres.  

Grade A meetings are normally linked to standard races.  Grade B races are very similar but have a subtle difference in terms of distance.  Whilst they still sit within the same 380m to 500m distance, the standard distance at that track has been marginally changed. 

Sprint and Hurdle Races - Grades D and H

Firstly, don’t ask where grade C is, we don’t have a clue!  These grades are where we see speed and agility over shorter distances.

Grade D - these are normally shorter races covering between 200 to 350 metres and usually only involve two of the four track bends being used.  These races are purely about speed and a dog’s ability to leave the trap quickly.

Grade H - This brings us onto hurdle races and whilst speed is still a necessity, these races are very much about agility.  

Handicap, Stayers and Marathon - Grades HP/Hcp, S and M

Grade HP/Hcp - An interesting variation to normal greyhound races is the HP/Hcp grades racing.  At this grade they stagger the stalls to create a level playing field for the slower dogs.

Grade S - This grade is all about endurance with bigger demands than normal races.  The races are increased to distances of between 600 and 700 metres.

Grade M - The ‘M’ stands for marathon so you can guess what this grade is about. This is the longest type of greyhound racing, covering distances of 800 to 1000 metres. 

Novice, Puppy and Open Races - Grades N, P and OR

Grade N - The ‘N’ stands for Novices so these races are aimed at previously unraced and inexperienced greyhounds.  It’s mainly used as a training ground to get the dogs ready for racing.

Grade P - Also known as Puppy races, these are races purely for greyhounds aged between 15 to 24 months old. These races provide trainers, owners and punters a fantastic opportunity to look out for talented greyhounds before they move to races that involve older and more experienced dogs.

Grade OR - Open races are considered to be elite in greyhound races.  Greyhounds usually stick to a ‘home’ track but Open Races see dogs from several different tracks competing. This then comes down to the best dogs having the adaptability to still perform at the top level. Open races make for more exciting contests and give bettors and dog trainers the chance to use their knowledge and strategies.

How To Place Greyhound Racing Bets

If we took you through every type of bet you could place on greyhounds, we would be here forever and a day.  If you want to see a full list of bets available, take a look at the Types of Bets article.

As this is an introduction to betting on greyhounds, let’s cover off the basic bets and dip our toes into water with a multiple bet.

Greyhound Single Bets

As mentioned before, Single bets are the simplest form of bet you can place. You are just picking one greyhound that you predict to win a race.

Pick which bookie you want to use then head to their website and find the greyhound betting markets.  In this real example, we are using Bet365 and have opted to choose Rosstemple Mo (Trap 4) in the 12:46 race at Harlow Greyhound Stadium. 

Once you select the greyhound you want, it will open a bet slip as above.  Just enter your stake and place the bet and you’re all done.

What are the returns if Rosstemple Mo wins?

• £10 (stake) x 5.0 (4/1) (odds) = £50 returns and £40 profit

Greyhound Each Way Bets

Similar to single bets, placing Each Way bets is also pretty simple. Selecting your greyhound for the bet is the same.

The difference this time is that you need to click on the EW box in the bet slip as highlighted below.  Using a greyhound from the 11.38am race at Harlow, this is what it would look like:

When placing each way bets, you’re increasing your chances of getting something back as your dog can finish first or second in this instance.

The each way terms will show in your bet slip and for this race the terms are 2 places and the place odds are ¼ of the win odds at 8.0.  

The calculation for the place is as follows: 8.0 (odds) x 0.25 (¼ of 8) = 2.  So what are the possible returns from this race?

Jiggys Turn wins

• £107.50 returned less the £20 stake = £87.50 profit

Jiggy Turn places (2nd)

• £27.50 returned less the £20 stake = £7.50

Jiggys Turn doesn’t win or place

• There’s no returns and you lose £20

Greyhound Multiple Bets

Multiple bets are something you should consider when you have more experience of betting on greyhounds.  The bet combinations can be complex the further you move through them and the costs can ramp up very quickly.

The returns from bets such as Lucky 15, Canadian and Heinz bets can be phenomenal but you won’t land one by luck.  To have a chance of success with these types of bets, you need to know your stuff.

This article is for less experienced bettors so we don’t want to confuse things by jumping the gun.  However, so you can have an insight into how multiple bets work, let’s look at a Yankee bet which is middle of the road in terms of complexity.

The first thing you need to do is pick four greyhounds from four different races.  That combination of four then creates 11 separate bets that are rolled into one bet.  That one bet will have the following bet combinations:

If only one greyhound wins, your bet will lose as there’s no single bets involved in a Yankee bet.  It’s when two greyhounds win that you’ll start to see returns on your bet:

• 2 dogs win - one double bet wins

• 3 dogs win - three double bets and one treble bet win

• 4 dogs win - start the party as all 11 bets have won.

Let’s say you’re on a day out at the Towcester dog races and have found 4 greyhounds you think have a good chance of winning and now you need to bet on them.

Head to the race card of your first choice and click on it to add it to the bet slip.  Then move on to the next race until you’ve added all four greyhounds. 

Once you have added all 4 greyhounds, a bet slip similar to the below will appear:

Remember, your stake applies to all 11 individual bets so a £1 stake will total £11.

Reading Racecards

Race cards can be considered to be the oracle of greyhound racing as the better one’s contain all the information you need to make informed decisions about your selection of greyhounds. 

Let’s take a look at what a basic race card can give you:

This is a very high level explanation of what data can be used for.  However, a full race card can provide a ridiculous amount of information for the more serious greyhound bettors.

Tips If You’re New To Greyhound Betting

Betting blindly without any knowledge will only get you so far and is likely to cost you money.  As the old saying goes…..Knowledge is power and that applies to pretty much all aspects of betting.  You have a much better chance of success if you know what you’re doing.

Let’s go through some pointers that could help you on your greyhound betting journey:

Homework and Research

Yes, we know it sounds boring but research is the most important thing to add to your betting strategy.

If you’re going to bet on greyhounds, have a look at the competitors' previous races to see how they performed and whether it was at the same track. 

It’s also worth looking at the previous race distances, track conditions and which trap they raced out of.  This will give you the tools to assess a greyhound's chances of success in its next race. 

Keep Updated - try and check related publications and social media for any news that might affect a race or meeting.  This could include track conditions due to weather, injuries or a new trainer taking over.

The Tracks and Track Conditions

You might be surprised at how a track can make a difference to a greyhound race.  Some greyhounds are more suited to firmer race tracks whereas others are better performers on softer tracks. 

On a similar note, track composition and the weather conditions can influence how a dog performs during the race.

• Weather Conditions: Depending on the track composition, rain can actually slow the track down and help certain greyhounds.

• Size of Track: Smaller race tracks can favour dogs that are quick out of the traps, whereas larger tracks tend to suit greyhounds with speed and stamina.

• Track Composition: Dog tracks tend to be either sand, synthetic compounds or dirt. Each greyhound will perform better on one than the other……….unless it’s a super dog!

Assess The Competition

There can be some amazing racing greyhounds on the circuit but as the saying goes, ‘there’s always someone better’. This is where it comes down to competition.  

Understanding the capabilities of all the dogs in a race is important.  This can influence your decisions when picking a greyhound to bet on.

• Assess the favourites: The favourites don’t always win so don’t rule out looking at the other competitors.

• Check the higher odds dogs: Similar to horse racing, there’s always dogs that surprise the markets. Keep an eye on the news and any sudden odds shifts.

Things to Think About When Picking Your Bets

Picking the winner is clearly the key to success when betting on greyhounds so here’s some things you might want to think about before placing those bets:

• Form - Look at the dog’s recent results, performances and race times.

• Distance - See which race distances the dog has performed best in.

• Speed - check out what speed they hit in their last couple of races.

• Trainer - Is the dog’s trainer reputable and known for winners

Greyhound Betting Strategies

Having a plan when betting on greyhounds can help to avoid emotional betting and keep your bets in control:

• Bankroll Management: set yourself a budget and stick to it. This will help make the betting fun and stop you from overspending.

• Bet Records: Make sure you record all your bets so you can learn from them.

• Diversify Bets: Don’t lump big sums on one bet. Mitigate the risks by spreading your budget across multiple bets.

• Never Chase Losses: There’s always ups and downs in betting. Take the rough with the smooth. If you have a bad day, don’t chase the losses as this can be very costly.

Utilise Experience

There are many professional and experienced gamblers on the greyhound betting circuit so why not try and tap into their knowledge for your benefit. Checking specific greyhound betting outlets such as social media, local race tracks and betting forums can give you great insights.

Some of the benefits can include:

• Betting Strategies: Experienced greyhound bettors can give you guidance on different betting systems and strategies to use.

• Mistake Avoidance: Using the knowledge of experienced dog racing bettors can help you avoid mistakes when you’re new to the dog racing betting arena.

Common Pitfalls To Avoid

Blind Betting: Betting without any research can lead to bad betting decisions.

Emotional Betting: Don’t choose dogs because you like the name.

Ignoring Race Cards & Form: Ignoring these factors can lead to uneducated bets.

Betting Blindly: Over time, strategic betting will perform better than relying on luck.

Where Can You Bet On Greyhounds?

There are three main ways to place your bets in UK greyhound racing:

Online Bookies: This method is by far the most popular way for punters to place their wagers.  Bookmakers plough a lot of investment into providing customers with online betting options.  All the bigger bookies offer customers websites and mobile apps to carry out their betting.  There’s no queueing up to place bets and convenience plays a massive part in this option.

Retail Outlets:  Whilst the amount of high street bookies continues to decline, there’s still close to 6,000 betting shops operating in the UK. This option is good for inexperienced bettors as shop staff can assist with any queries.

Race Course Bets:  This is the most exciting way to place bets on greyhounds.  Not only are you having a great day out, you get to experience the on-track buzz of real bookies changing odds quickly and handing out real bet slips. 

Summary

Greyhound betting combines a fast-paced racing environment with an opportunity to pit your wits against the bookies. 

Having a good understanding of dog racing and an effective betting strategy can help both the enjoyment and success of greyhound betting.  Make sure you do your research and understand the types of bets you’re placing.

It’s important that you stay on the ball though, especially just before the start of races as the odds move at rapid speeds and way quicker than any other sports betting markets.

Make sure you have a budget and don’t spend more than you can afford.