Betting on the Dogs (Dog Racing)
Go, doggie, go!
The concept of dog racing is very similar to another form of animal based racing: Horse Racing. In fact, it’s almost exactly the same. The animals line up at the gate, and run around the track.
Where horse racing has riders (known as jockeys) riding the animals, the dogs (usually Greyhounds, whom are known for their great speed and aerodynamic bodies) run without human intervention, instead chasing a mechanical rabbit around the track. The sport made its way to the United States during the 1920’s, though the origins of this sport date even farther back to the late 1870’s in the United Kingdom.
While dog racing is still active and going well, its popularity in the United States is not nearly as high as in other countries such as Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, where dog racing enjoys a high amount of popularity (Horse racing is far more popular in the US).
When betting on a greyhound, there is one main goal to focus on: who do you think will win (or finish near the top). While studying the numbers to try and beat the odds is the main lure, simply placing a bet on a dog because one likes the dogs look (or even just their name) is a perfectly valid way to choose.
Players will place their wagers on simple bets, such as a “Straight”, “Single” or “Win” bet, which is awarded if the selected dog crosses the finish line. There are also “Place” bets for selecting the places a dog gets first or second place. The “Show” bet is for the third greyhound to cross the finish line, or even a combination of all of these bets called “Across the Board”, which allows the player to make a winning from all three at once.
Dog racing is typically uses pari-mutuel betting, meaning all bets are placed in a pool, a house (or track) take is removed, and the fractional odds for each bet are calculated by what’s left, and how much was bet on each particular bet.
There have been some controversies regarding the usage of greyhounds to ensure that the animals are taken care of once they have been “retired” from the sport. A greyhound’s racing career is usually over when the dog reaches the age of between four and six. Once retired, the dogs are either kept for breeding purposes, or are given to dog adoption programs, where they can live out their middle and old ages in the care of a loving family as a pet.
Enjoy your day at the races!
