4 - Runner or Vacant

In this section, I discuss the maximum number of runners allowed in a race and the importance of the trap draw when predicting greyhound races around the world. Also mentioned is our reasons for choosing the various racing jacket colours used in the GP v2.0 Software Program.

Is this greyhound a runner?

Greyhound Predictor allows all post positions or box draws to be simulated and lets you predict races that include vacant traps!

This feature not only lets you take out dogs that have become non runners (n/r) or scratched runners, but most importantly permits you to hold your own greyhound trial sessions (greyhound raceform statistic class or grade T = trial, T2 = 2 dog trial, T3 = 3 dog trial etc., solo trial = 'solo' or 'st' in American raceform). All combinations of a maximum 8 dogs per race are available.

In Australian and American greyhound races the present maximum number of runners permitted is 8 dogs, although previously both nine and ten dog races regularly took place. In UK racing, the current amount of runners is limited to six dogs, although in the past both five and eight runner races were a regular feature.

In English greyhound racing all trap allocations for races are seeded. This means that all dogs running an inside route will be issued with a 'rails tag' and hence seeded 'rails'. An (R) after a greyhound's name always indicates to a railer. The first railer drawn from the 'trap draw' always occupies the first available inside trap position. Middle track running dogs have the letter (M) after their name and will be given a 'middle tag' and seeded middle. Please note: the first middle seed drawn out, will always occupy the first available race trap position placed on the inside of the nearest wide runner. Wide and very wide running dogs will be given a 'wide tag' and seeded wide. The first wide seed drawn out always occupies the widest trap position. In UK greyhound form a (W) placed after a dog's name indicates a wide racer. Only very rarely when there are six wide runners in a greyhound final or perhaps in a handicap race, will a wide racing dog ever occupy the inside box. Please note: all trap positions for English graded races are allocated by the racing manager under N.G.R.C. Rule 76 (v).

Occasionally, a few greyhounds when first trialed for a forthcoming 'open class' event may 'run a track' differently and alter their natural racing line. The trainer with the owners permission may then decide to ask the 'racing manager' for a change to their dog's 'seeding position', this will only be granted when it is genuinely believed the dog would perform better if allowed to start future races from a different starting box position. The general reasoning behind 'seeded dog races' is, I believe, based purely in the 'interests of greyhound safety' as overall it helps to provide cleaner trouble free greyhound racing and theoretically improves the chances of dogs obtaining a clear run in the initial stages of a race and thus encourages dogs to perform to their maximum racing capabilities.

Alternatively in American and Australian dog racing there is 'no seeding' any runner can be drawn in any post position or box number, no preferences are given and to put it quite simply "the luck of the box draw" will always play a leading role in determining race results and therefore, will be an important factor to take into consideration when predicting future American and Australian dog winners.

I recommend all 'greyhound predictors' spend time experimenting and getting to know how different 'trap positions' effect the individual running performances of dogs racing around the GP Racetrack. This can best be observed by conducting your own private dog trials!

Please note: The option to trial dogs and then 'RACE AGAIN' is only fully functional in the full registered version.

All "racegoers" when predicting races that include 'vacant traps' will appreciate, that any greyhound placed in any 'adjacent trap' to a vacant trap or non runner, are generally thought to have a 'good draw' as theoretically with more 'racing room' they have a better chance of breaking well and obtaining a clear run when exiting the boxes in the very early stages of a race. However, this should not be presumed, as this will always depend on the individual 'make up' of each particular race!

Now check your newspaper and enter Runner or Vacant.

Greyhound Racing Colours

All dog racing nations have their own respective colour code of racing jackets, rugs or blankets to identify the individual greyhounds as they race. Since governing bodies worldwide use different race colours, there can often be a confusion in identifying the runners when watching greyhound racing on television or viewing via the Internet. This confusion in the identification of the dogs will always exist until all greyhound jacket colours around the world, are perhaps one day unified!

Here at Greyhound Predictor we found ourselves choosing our own greyhound colours, wishing to be fair to all dog racing countries, we wanted to use the most recognised and appropriate trap colours and therefore, best suited to all 'greyhound predictors'. After studying the dog colours of the main racing nations, we decided that the following blanket colours would hopefully be considered a fair choice and are represented in GP v2.0.

Our reasons for selecting these dog racing colours were as follows: The first 3 traps, Red = 1, Blue = 2 and White = 3 just so happen to be the same colours used by the UK, Irish, European and American greyhound industries, therefore, the choice of selecting them was made simply for us.

Choosing the next 3 blanket colours was a little more difficult to say the least, as each of the main greyhound nations use different colours for all three trap positions. After careful thought and consideration, we decided to stay with the race colours previously used in GP version 1.0 and use the European and British greyhound racing colours: Black = 4, Orange = 5, and Black/White stripes = 6.

The task of choosing the rug colour of trap 7 was again made difficult, as all greyhound racing nations use different colours for this post position. However, it was finally decided to represent the American dog industry and therefore the color of Green and White Stripes = 7 was chosen.

Lastly it was decided that the jacket colour of trap 8 should in all fairness represent the Australian greyhound industry and therefore, the famous Pink Jacket = 8 used in Australia was chosen.

AMERICAN GREYHOUND BLANKET COLORS

AUSTRALIAN DOG RUG COLOURS

EUROPEAN, IRISH & UK DOG JACKET COLOURS

NEW ZEALAND GREYHOUND RUG COLOURS

Next Page: Dog or Bitch

The Science of Greyhound Racing Prediction

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