5 - Dog or Bitch
In this section, I explain how to find the gender, colour and breeding of a greyhound and give my reasons why this may effect it's track performances. I also discuss how to calculate the approximate number of weeks out of season, in order to simulate a bitch racing after a seasonal rest.
Is this runner a Dog or a Bitch?
Knowing the sex of a greyhound is very important, as it will provide a good indication to the overall consistency of performances. All greyhounds throughout their careers experience times of running well, being 'in form' and other times of not running well being 'out of form'.
Dogs generally are easier to train than bitches and are perhaps considered more consistent in their racing performances. It is commonly thought that male dogs are best suited to sprint and middle-distance race lengths. There are of course always exceptions to the rule!
Bitches on the other hand are much harder to train, as racing schedules are continuely interrupted when a greyhound bitch comes into season (Ssn). This may occur perhaps once a year and she will at that time be 'withdrawn' from all her racing activities for at least 3 months. It is generally thought, bitches are perhaps better suited to 'longer distances' such as stayers races and marathon trips. 'Marathon bitches' it is said, may only in their second season of racing over these extended race trips, reach their peak racing potential!
When a bitch is retired to the paddock and put to a sire (stud dogs) for breeding, she becomes a 'brood bitch' and is called a 'dam' after whelping her first pups. All 'regular punters' when studying dog form will pay particular attention to the 'breeding lines' of all competing greyhounds and should always note, when a former "top racing bitch" has produced offspring to a 'classic winning sire'. Although there are no guarantees when it comes to breeding, these greyhound litters with top class pedigrees, are always said to be "bred in the purple". These much sought after young 'greyhound saplings' may share similar colourings and markings and show 'racing traits' common to either their sire or dam - racing styles, distance of race etc. For further information on breeding lines I recommend you visit greyhound-data.com.
Occasionally a heavily raced bitch may be irregular in her seasonal dates, which may result in two or three seasons occurring in any one year, although usually one of these may be a 'false heat' where no results would come from breeding. However, all bitches are different, as some don't 'go into season' until they are several years old, while others may do so much earlier.
Now check your newspaper.
The UK greyhound statistic that informs you the 'gender' is usually written as a standard dog racing prefix letter eg; d = Dog and b = Bitch and is always preceeded by other abbreviated letters referring to a greyhound's colour: bk. d. = black dog, w.bd.b. = white brindle bitch, f.w.b. = fawn white bitch, be.d. = blue dog etc. This race data is usually located to the left of each greyhound sire's name.
In American greyhound racing form stats (m) = male dog and (f) = female dog.
Now enter Dog or Bitch. If you have selected Bitch the following question will be asked:-
Is the Seasonal Date = Known, Not Known or Suppressed?
Knowing the 'seasonal date of a bitch' is yet another very important factor to take into consideration, as it gives a clue to her general level of fitness. Most bitches returning from a seasonal rest will be 'race rusty' and perhaps due to the lactose - sugary substance contained in milk - build up in their systems, may be carrying a little extra weight. After time, this lactose will dry up and within a few trials and races these fresh 'seasoned bitches' will start showing signs of returning to peak form - change in running style, faster sectionals, improvement in racetimes etc.
It is generally considered that a greyhound bitch approaching 16 weeks out of season, is the "perfect time" to be returning to peak racing fitness. However, all bitches are different, as some will start to run well, sooner perhaps at 14 weeks out of season, while others may indeed be slower "coming to hand" and will take longer to find their 'top racing form', perhaps between 18-24 weeks from the date of their last season.
Please note: when 'female dogs' show signs of better form, they often continue to run consistently well and may even improve rapidly over a 'period of weeks' as they generally follow their own natural cycle of either 'coming into form' or 'going out of form'.
As the old greyhound adage says, "It always pays to follow a bitch in form"
Now check your newspaper again. The raceform data that tells you the seasonal date is usually located to the right of the 'whelping date' which is found to the right of the dam's name and for example may be written as follows:- (Ssn 01 Jan 10).
Seasonal Date Not Known - If No Season Date (nsd) appears in the formlines, then this dog may have yet to experience her first seasonal date, therefore, you should select Not Known.
Seasonal Date Suppressed - Greyhound trainers may sometimes opt to give 'suppressants' to certain racing bitches, in order to delay or stop a season from occurring. These 'suppressed bitches' then have the opportunity to continue racing 'on the track' rather then being sidelined for many weeks 'off the track' due to an enforced seasonal rest. If the seasonal date contains the raceform abbreviation (Ssn Sup) then select Suppressed. Please note: If a bitch has been 'spayed' then I suggest you also select Suppressed.
Seasonal Date Known - If a bitch's seasonal date appears in the formlines and you've selected Known? - The following question will be asked:-
How many weeks out of season?
To answer this question, you simply calculate the approximate number of weeks that have elapsed since the last seasonal date occurred!
Another way to answer this question, is to study all the relevant raceform for all 'female greyhounds' and literally by reading between the formlines, decide for yourself, whether she's currently 'in form' or 'out of form'? If you consider she's running well, then I suggest you enter 16 weeks out of season! The GP dog racing simulator will then simulate a bitch running at her very best form. Alternatively, if you consider she's not running well? then I suggest you leave the seasonal weeks blank, the 'Predictor' will then simulate her racing slightly 'below par' or being 'out of form'.
Now check your newspaper and enter the number of weeks out of season.
Next Page: Greyhound Age
