Greyhound racing has had many ups and downs throughout the years, but the exhilarating sport continues to provide entertainment for fans and is still a way of life for all of those involved behind the scenes.
Despite being a niche sport at times, the popularity of Greyhound Racing in the betting scene continues unabated and often serves as a stopgap for punters in between the more popular sporting events.
For those of you who do like a night at the dogs, the terminology used on racecards can be sometimes confusing, but worry not, below we have selected some greyhound racing terms that you need to know.
The Terminology
Jolly – Simply put, a dog described as ‘the jolly’ for a race, is the favourite for the contest in the greyhound racing betting, for example, this year’s Greyhound Derby 8/1 ante-post jolly, Fromposttopillar.
Providers offer competitive odds that involve a range of terms in the Greyhound betting market, so it’s important to know your stuff.
Box/Trap – The box, otherwise known as the traps, are where the greyhounds are placed in preparation for the race. The competing dogs are allocated a box numbered between one and six, and they must wait for the ‘hare’ to pass before the traps are open and they can begin their race in earnest.
The box from which a dog starts can play a big part in the race itself, with some dogs preferring to break from trap one to race on the inside, others from trap six to stay wide on the track, and yet more who like to bounce out of the middle to battle their way to the front.
Rag – The ‘rag’ is another betting term similar to the ‘jolly’, this time describing the complete outsider of the field.
With a greyhound race sometimes being full of unpredictable occurrences and hustling and bustling, it is not unusual for a ‘rag’ to defy the odds.
Going – Similar to the equivalent in the horse racing world, the going is the condition of the track when it comes to the speed that the dogs are likely to be able to run.
The going is decided by an official handicapper at the track, with the weather being the main cause of a fast or slow surface.
Grade – The Grade is a description of the level of the race in question.
Like any athlete, greyhounds have a varying degree of ability, therefore they will be allocated to a Grade that they are likely to be able to be competitive in.
An Open race is the highest level that a greyhound can reach, with the Derby being considered the pinnacle of the sport.
Trial – A trial is a non-competitive race for younger dogs and those returning to action after a break to gain experience on the track.
A trial is also used by the handicapper to assess the ability of the dogs involved for future race levels.
Puppy – As the name suggests, a puppy is a young dog that is learning its trade in the racing world.
In greyhound racing, a dog must be under the age of two to be considered for entry in a ‘puppy race’.
These are just a few terms that you will come across in the world of greyhound racing.
Knowing these will be an aide to any potential fans or backers, as the sport can sometimes be a little confusing if you are not an avid supporter.
