9 - Greyhound Pace
In this section I explain how to determine the correct racing pace of a greyhound and discuss the various advantages and disadvantages of individual racing styles. American Chartwriters, studying sectional timings and reading raceform comments are also included.
Type of Pace?
All dogs competing in races have their own individual racing style, this is best illustrated by observing a greyhound's pace in running.
Greyhound Predictor Software allows the choice of 4 pace types:
Early Pace - This type of pace generally produces very fast sectional times as all 'quick away' dogs reach their fastest racing speeds in the early stages of a greyhound 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 the pace and race clear into an unassailable lead! However, early pace greyhounds inevitably tire and often fade dramatically in the closing stages of a race.
Middle Pace - Dogs with this pace type generally produce average sectionals and are seen to best effect when accelerating along the backstraights in the middle stages of a race. However, middle paced greyhounds are often denied 'racing room' as they frequently find themselves surrounded closely by other dogs racing in a tightly packed field and for this reason are perhaps more likely to be involved in race interference then other greyhound racing pace types and therefore maybe impeded (Imp) or forced to check (Ck) when challenging at the first or third bends.
Finishing Pace - Greyhounds with this style of racing pace usually produce slow sectional times, as they do their best running, when making ground from the rear of the field and challenging for the lead towards the end of a race. These strong running 'finishing dogs' being generally slower away from the traps, then other pace types, often unwittingly benefit when 1st bend trouble or crowding occurs up-front amongst the leading dogs. However, dogs that 'finish well' have to pass and avoid all the other dogs in-front of them and therefore for this reason are frequently hampered or forced to run wide and generally 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 running style generally produce all combinations of fast, average or slow 'sectional times' and usually maintain a 'strong pace' throughout a race, although, this style of running maybe sometimes considered a little one paced!
Now check your newspaper.
To know a 'dog's pace type', you must literally read between the formlines, as there is no specific dog statistic or greyhound racing data that tells you the pace of a greyhound. However, clues are given and overall, there are 3 ways to calculate a greyhound's pace:-
1 - Studying Sectional Times - Firstly by comparing 'sectional times' over the same race course and distance, informs you which greyhounds are 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 Australian dog programmes.
2 - Reading Race Remarks - The following raceform comments will 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 dogs win races at both ends ie. by generally leading from the start or by staying on strongly at the end and therefore will share 'race comments' very similar to other dog pace types and overall are perhaps seen best when breaking well and holding a good early racing position!
3 - Observing the Race Positions - In UK greyhound racing formlines, all previous race positions of the dogs are recorded in all official racecards at various points around the track. For standard middle-distance races, the positions for each greyhound are shown at the 1st bend, 2nd bend, 3rd bend, 4th bend and finishing position. These racing statistics are found in all UK race programmes to the right of the 'sectional times' and always provide an accurate guide to a greyhound's type of pace, 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, will 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 pace' or an 'all round pace' are always a little harder to determine!
All 'American racegoers' rely on the 'official chart writers' who determine a dog's overall race position at various points around a dog track:-
Off Call or Break Call - This is the greyhounds position 1-8 coming from the starting boxes.
The 1/8 Call, 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 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 all 'greyhound spectators' should do while attending a meeting, is to go "out for a shout" and take a look at the greyhounds on parade, I personally look for 'alert dogs' that appear 'mean and keen' with their tail tucked preferably down, well 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 dogs, is to keep watching the dogs after the race has finished. 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 always help to identify the correct racing pace of a greyhound for all your future dog racing predictions!
Now enter Early, Middle, Finishing or All Round Pace.
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