9 - Greyhound Pace
In this section, I explain how to determine the racing pace of a greyhound and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of individual racing styles. Studying Sectional Timings, Reading Race Comments, Observing Track Positions and American Chart Writers are also included.
Type of Pace?
Greyhound Predictor Software Version 2.0 allows you the choice of 4 types of pace:-
All dogs have their own individual style of racing, this is best illustrated by observing a greyhound's pace in a race!
Early Pace - This type of greyhound racing pace produces very fast sectional times as all 'quick away dogs' reach their fastest racing speeds in the very early stages of a race. These 'fast breakers' perform best when allowed to dictate a race, by leading "on the bunny" all the way from the start. This ability to 'lead' is crucial to all front-running greyhounds, as they rely on gaining a 'clear run' in order to set an unassailable lead! However, early pace greyhounds inevitably tire and often fade dramatically in the closing stages of a race!
Middle Pace - Dogs with middle pace produce average sectionals and will be seen to best effect when allowed to accelerate along the backstraights in the middle stages of a race. However, 'middle paced greyhounds' are frequently denied 'racing room' as they often find themselves surrounded closely by other dogs running in a tightly packed field and for this reason are perhaps more likely to be involved in race interference then other dog racing pace types and maybe impeded (Imp) or forced to check (Ck) when challenging at the first or third bends!
Finishing Pace - This style of running generally produces slower sectional times, as 'finishing dogs' do their best running, when making ground from the rear of the field and challenging for the lead towards the final stages of a race. These 'strong finishers' often unwittingly benefit when 1st bend trouble occurs up-front amongst the leading dogs. However, dogs that "stay on" have to pass and avoid all the other dogs in-front of them and therefore for these reasons, maybe frequently hampered or forced to run wide and will have to overcome their fair share of racing traffic problems. Most young puppies finishing well in races, will in time be stepped up in distance, as will most dogs better suited to longer races.
All Round Pace - Dogs with this pace can produce all combinations of fast, average or slow sectional times, as these greyhounds usually maintain a 'strong pace' throughout a race, although sometimes, this may be considered a little one paced!
Now check your newspaper.
To find a dog's pace type, you must literally read between the formlines, as there is no specific statistic or greyhound racing data that tells you the actual pace of a greyhound. However, clues are given and basically there are 3 ways to calculate a greyhound's pace:-
1 - Studying Sectional Times - Firstly by comparing 'sectional times' run over the same track and distance, will inform you which greyhounds are generally fast, average or slow away in the first few seconds of a race.
In Australia, some of the world's finest dog stadiums or "city tracks" often supply 3 split times:- the initial run to the 1st bend sectional, the approximate 1/2 way clockings and the 'coming home' or 'home run' sectional measured to an accuracy of 1000/second from a point at the top of the back stretch to the winning line, are stated in some Australian race programmes.
2 - Reading Race Remarks - The following raceform comments will usually indicate to a greyhound's pace:-
Early Pace = clear 1st, led 1, very quick away (v qaw), early pace (ep), fast away (f aw) always led (aled), box to wire, led to line.
Middle Pace = led 1-2 to run-in, led 2, led 3, slow away-early pace (sa ep).
Finishing Pace = led 4, very slow away (vsa), lacked early pace (lep), led on line (ld ln), ran on (rn on), finished well (fw), stretch drive, winning drive.
All Round Pace = These greyhounds win races at both ends ie. by leading from the start or by staying on strongly at the end and therefore, share race comments very similar to other pace types and overall perhaps perform best when breaking well and holding a good early position!
3 - Observing the Race Positions - In UK greyhound racing formlines, all race positions of the dogs are shown in all official racecards at various points around a track. For standard middle-distance races, each greyhound's position in a race is recorded at the 1st bend, 2nd bend, 3rd bend, 4th bend and finishing line. These racing statistics are found in all UK programmes to the right of the dog's sectional times and will always provide an accurate guide to a greyhound's pace type. eg:-
Early Pace = 1 1 1 1 2 - Middle Pace = 3 2 1 1 2 - Finishing Pace = 6 6 4 3 2
All Round Pace = These dogs are capable of replicating all types of pace and therefore, occupy similar race positions to other running styles. Generally, when reading raceform it is easy to pick out the 'early pace' and 'finishing pace' greyhounds, although dogs that have 'middle' or 'all round pace' will always be a little harder to determine!
In American greyhound racing it's the 'Official Chart Writers' who determine a dog's position in a race at various points around a track:-
Off Call or Break Call - This is the greyhounds racing position 1-8 coming from the starting boxes.
The 1/8 Call - This is the dogs position in the field measured at a point exiting the 1st (escape) turn, please note: The 'first turn time' (F.T.T.) will only show the leading dogs time to the escape turn.
Stretch Call - This is the runners position in the field, measured at a point just entering the final turn.
Finish Call - This is the dog's final race position 1-8 measured at the finish line.
I suggest, the 3rd thing you should always do while attending a meeting, is to go "out for a shout" and take a good look at the greyhounds on parade, I personally like to see 'alert dogs' that appear 'mean and keen' with their tail tucked well down, underneath themselves, resembling a coiled spring! rather then perhaps a 'sluggish looking' or 'happy dog' with it's tail waggling in the air!
I suggest the 4th and last thing all 'greyhound predictors' should remember to do when going to the "bow wows", is to keep watching the dogs after the race finishes. Like many good 'dog scribes' and experienced 'greyhound judges' you should always continue to watch the dogs run to the 'pick up' or 'sough' (sgh), as this will help identify the correct racing pace of a greyhound for all your future race predictions!
Now enter Early, Middle, Finishing or All Round Pace.
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