3 - Race Lengths
In this section, I mention the general greyhound racing distances used in the United Kingdom and explain how different form prefixes help identify each particular race length. Please see British Greyhound Track Race Lengths.
Greyhound Race Distances
Greyhound Predictor Software lets you predict races run over 3 race lengths:- 515 metres = 563 yards, 500 metres = 547 yards and 480 metres = 525 yards. Try selecting a race close to these distances to obtain the best predictions!
You can select all dog racing distances to be displayed in metres or yards by selecting Options from the Main Menu. Alternatively, you can pre-set your own distance measurements by finding the Configuration Utility on your computer: (Start - Programs - Greyhound Predictor v2.0 - Configuration) as the default mode of your choice, each time you start up Greyhound Predictor, only then will these settings be saved for you!
Basically there are four greyhound distance categories. In the U.K. a raceform prefix (abbreviated letter) is always shown in the formlines before the 'race grade' to represent the length of race, for instance: D = sprint races (2 bend racing), A = middle distance races (4 bends), S = stayers races (6 bends) and E = marathon or extended races (8 bends or more). Please note: In Ireland these prefixes are slightly different ie: S = Sprint, A = Middle-Distance and D = Long Distance. Although these 'race prefixes' can vary from track to track.
In England, Ireland and Scotland far the most common distance used for greyhound racing is 480 metres or 525 yards. The English Derby, Oaks and Grand National - (Wimbledon) All England Cup - (Newcastle) Blue Riband - (Hall Green) and Scottish Derby - (Shawfield) are all run over this middle-distance race length.
There are also 'sprint classics' such as the Scurry Gold Cup first run at Clapton in 1928 over 400 yards untill the track closed and was transferred in 1974 to Slough over 434m/475y and later in 1987 to Catford over 385 metres. In 2003/4 the race was not run until re-instated in 2005 at Perry Barr over 275 metres and is now run at Belle Vue over 260 metres. In Ireland the premier sprint is the Irish National Sprint run at Newbridge over 325 yards.
The longest classic race in England is the Cesarewitch, first held in 1928 at West Ham and originally run over 600 yards untill in 1972 the event was transferred to Belle Vue over 880 yards and was the first time a "classic" had been staged in the north of England. In 1995 the GRA (Greyhound Racing Association) decided to switch the venue to Catford Stadium and run over 715 metres until the track closed in 2000. Since 2001 the race has been staged at Oxford over 645 metres. The longest race in Ireland is the Ted Hegarty Marathon run at Harolds Cross over 1010 yards, although the longest classic run in Ireland is the Irish Cesarewitch held at Mullingar over 600 yards.
Occasionally races will take place over a sprint, stayers or marathon distance, where the positioning of the starting traps provides the competitors with only a 'short run' to the first corner. These races frequently result in first bend trouble occuring, due to the distinct 'lack of racing room' and therefore, will always be a little more difficult to predict!
Now check your daily racing newspaper.
The form statistic that informs you the length of a race? is usually found in the top right corner of each race heading.
Now select one of the 3 race lengths and enter the distance of race!
You've now completed all the 'race set up' questions, and will be asked to answer a further set of 7 dog racing questions, by once again, studying the greyhound formlines in your newspaper for each selected runner, starting with trap one. Please select as before, by highlighting any of the multiple choice answers supplied and press the Spacebar to enter. Please note: certain questions (ages, weights, racetimes and race lengths) require numerical answers to be inputted into the GP Stat Screen by simply using the number digits situated at the top or right hand side of your computer keyboard.
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