On this page
- How greyhound racing works
- New! Our Top 3:
- Greyhound bet types
- How to read a greyhound racecard
- BAGS and evening racing
- Greyhound racing vs horse racing
- Forecast and tricast example
- Greyhound racing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Greyhound betting tips
- Where to bet on greyhounds
- Key points to remember
Greyhound racing has been part of British betting since the 1920s. Today there are races almost every day of the year, from morning meetings run for bookmakers to Saturday night cards at the big tracks. Races are short, fields are small and there is always another race coming up, which makes greyhound betting popular with punters who like quick action. In this guide we explain how greyhound racing works, which bets you can place, how to read a racecard and what to look out for.
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 250 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 300 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £300 + 200 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
No casinos match this filter yet.
How greyhound racing works
New! Our Top 3:
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 250 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £1.500 + 300 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
18+ · New UK players only · T&Cs apply. 100% up to £300 + 200 Free Spins Please gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org
No casinos match this filter yet.
A standard British greyhound race has six runners, each starting from a numbered trap. The dogs chase a mechanical lure around an oval sand track. Most races are run over distances of around 260 to 500 metres, which takes about 15 to 30 seconds. Longer staying races and hurdle races are also on the card at some tracks.
In Britain, licensed racing is regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). In Ireland it is run by Greyhound Racing Ireland, with Shelbourne Park in Dublin as its best-known track and home of the Irish Derby.
Trap colours
Every trap has a fixed colour, which the dog’s jacket matches. Knowing them helps you follow a race:
| Trap | Jacket colour |
|---|---|
| 1 | Red |
| 2 | Blue |
| 3 | White |
| 4 | Black |
| 5 | Orange |
| 6 | Black and white stripes |
Trap 1 is closest to the inside rail and trap 6 is on the outside. Dogs are seeded by their running style: dogs that like to run close to the rail are given inside traps (marked “R” for railer), while wide runners are given outside traps (marked “W”).
Greyhound bet types
| Bet type | What you bet on | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Your dog wins | The simplest bet |
| Each way | Your dog wins or finishes in the places | Usually 2 places at 1/4 odds in a six-dog race |
| Forecast | First and second in the correct order | The most popular greyhound bet after the win |
| Reverse forecast | First and second in either order | Two bets, so double the stake |
| Tricast | First, second and third in the correct order | Big dividends, hard to land |
| Combination tricast | First three in any order | Six bets |
| Trap betting | A trap number rather than a dog | Common on BAGS and virtual cards |
Forecasts and tricasts are especially popular in greyhound racing. With only six runners, landing the first two or three in order is much more realistic than in a 20-runner horse race. They are settled by a computer straight forecast (CSF) or computer tricast dividend, calculated from the starting prices.
You can also combine greyhounds in multiples such as doubles, a Yankee or a Lucky 15. Use our bet calculator to see what they would pay.
How to read a greyhound racecard
A greyhound racecard gives you a lot of information in a small space:
- Trap and seeding: the trap number and whether the dog is a railer (R), middle runner (M) or wide runner (W).
- Grade: the class of the race. A1 is the top open graded class at most tracks, D grades are for sprints and S grades for staying races.
- Recent form: finishing positions in recent races, along with sectional times and the comments of the race reader.
- Times: the best recent run time over the trip. Calculated times adjust for the going.
- Trainer: some trainers are consistently in form at certain tracks.
What to look for
- Early pace: greyhound races are often decided at the first bend. A fast trapper with a clear run is a big advantage.
- Trap draw and running style: a railer drawn in trap 1 is ideal. A railer drawn wide may get squeezed out.
- Crowding: look at how many dogs want the same part of the track. Bumping at the first bend often decides the race.
- Class changes: a dog dropping in grade after running well in a higher class is worth noting.
BAGS and evening racing
There are two main types of greyhound meetings in the UK:
- Bookmaker-funded meetings: morning and afternoon cards, often called BAGS meetings after the original service, run mainly for off-course betting. Fields are graded and races come every few minutes.
- Evening and weekend meetings: the traditional night at the dogs, often with bigger crowds, open races and feature events.
Major events in the calendar include the English Greyhound Derby in early summer and the Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park in late summer.
Greyhound racing vs horse racing
| Greyhounds | Horse racing | |
|---|---|---|
| Runners | 6 | From a handful to 40 |
| Race time | About 15 to 30 seconds | One to nine minutes |
| Races per day | Hundreds across all tracks | A few meetings with 6 to 8 races each |
| Each way terms | Usually 2 places at 1/4 odds | Depends on field size |
| Popular exotic bets | Forecast and tricast | Placepot, Lucky 15 |
Read our horse racing betting guide for the full picture on racing, or our virtual horse racing page if you are interested in computer-generated races.
Forecast and tricast example
Suppose you back a £1 reverse forecast on traps 2 and 5, costing £2. The dog in trap 5 wins and trap 2 finishes second. One of your two forecasts is correct, so you are paid the computer straight forecast dividend for 5-2. If that dividend is £18.40, your return is £18.40 for your £2 stake. A combination tricast on three dogs costs six times the unit stake, because it covers every order of the three. The dividends are higher, but you need all three dogs to fill the first three places.
Greyhound racing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Most licensed greyhound tracks are in England, but the sport has fans across the UK. Scotland has a long history of dog racing, and punters in Wales and Northern Ireland bet on the same British and Irish cards through online bookmakers. Irish tracks such as Shelbourne Park are especially popular with punters in Northern Ireland. Wherever you are in the UK, the same bet types, trap colours and settlement rules apply.
Greyhound betting tips
- Focus on one or two tracks. Every track has its own shape and favoured traps. Specialising helps you spot patterns.
- Watch replays. Race comments tell you if a dog was unlucky, for example baulked at the first bend.
- Do not overdo forecasts. A reverse forecast or combination tricast quickly multiplies your stake.
- Compare odds. Prices differ between bookmakers, and some offer Best Odds Guaranteed on UK greyhounds. See our Best Odds Guaranteed guide.
- Set a budget. With races every few minutes, it is easy to bet more often than you planned.
Where to bet on greyhounds
A good greyhound bookmaker covers all UK and Irish tracks, offers forecasts and tricasts and ideally live streams. Our top three:
Our pick: bet on the dogs at Inky Bet, or compare greyhound odds at Tip-Top and Jackpot City. More bookmakers can be found in our guide to the best UK betting sites.
Key points to remember
- UK greyhound races have six runners, each starting from a numbered trap.
- Forecasts and tricasts are far more realistic with six runners than in big horse races.
- Each way usually pays two places at 1/4 of the odds.
- Early pace, trap draw and running style decide many races.
- Specialise in a few tracks and compare odds before you bet.
A standard UK greyhound race has six runners, each starting from its own trap.
Trap 1 is red, trap 2 blue, trap 3 white, trap 4 black, trap 5 orange and trap 6 black and white stripes.
A forecast is a bet on the first and second dogs in the correct order. A reverse forecast covers both orders and costs double.
In a six-dog race, each way usually pays two places at 1/4 of the win odds. Terms can vary between bookmakers.
BAGS meetings are daytime greyhound meetings funded by bookmakers, mainly for off-course betting. The name comes from the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service.