6 - Greyhound Ages
In this section, I discuss how to calculate the age of a greyhound from it's whelping date and explain why this may effect race performances. A link to Greyhound Welfare sites is also provided in the hope of rehoming retired ex-racing dogs.
What's this Greyhound's Age in Months?
Knowing the age of the dog is another very important factor to take into consideration when predicting canine races, as it indicates to it's future racing potential and overall implies to the general consistency of racing performances.
Greyhound Predictor v2.0 Software requires you to enter each greyhound's age in months!
In UK racing form, a dog's age is always taken from the first day of the month, even if born on the last day of the month!
All dogs and bitches less than 24 months old are classified as 'greyhound puppies' and will at approximately 12 months of age be introduced to the idea of racing, after initial schooling trials and further 'grading in trials' most juvenile dogs that achieve a 'grading in time', will make their race debuts between 15 - 18 months of age.
Dog trainers may occasionally elect to bring certain 'well bred pups' on slowly at first, deliberately keep them back, wrap them in cotton wool perhaps! and then introduce them fresh in the spring from a winter's break, in order to get them fit for the forthcoming competitive 'Puppy Opens' held later in the summer months.
These raw 'lightly raced greyhounds' are always "open to improvement" and may improve rapidly over a short time, as overall they possess good racing potential, which is always considered a good sign when predicting future dog winners. However, 'greyhound pups' frequently run a little 'green' and race inconsistently, as obviously young puppies are still learning to win dog races.
The age at which a greyhound reaches it's peak can vary enormously. It is generally considered a greyhound will be at it's best between 30 - 36 months, although I personally believe some greyhounds reach 'racing maturity' slightly earlier, between 21 - 30 months of age and consider this, the perfect age for backing dogs racing over middle race distances. Though bitches may sometimes take a little longer to reach their full potential.
Older greyhounds lets say between 36 - 48 months old will be competing in their second or third racing season. These 'experienced race dogs' having acquired 'good trackcraft' will be battle hardened to the hustle and bustle of regular racing and produce very consistent track performances, illustrated by the close proximity of their recorded racetimes.
A greyhound's racing career is a short one! as dogs still competing at an age of 54 - 60 months old, will be approaching the twilight of their track careers and many of these fondly remembered 'greyhound veterans' will sadly be retired. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, as a few 'seasoned old campaigners' will continue winning races at perhaps 70 - 80 months old. Although, most will be past their best and generally lack that bit of spark or back-straight pace they once possessed!
The Greyhound Predictor website now has an extra page dedicated to 'greyhound rescue sites' if you can in anyway help in the re-homing of retired racing greyhounds then please check out our greyhound rescue page.
Now check your racing newspaper.
To know how old a greyhound is? you need to find the raceform stat known as the 'whelping date' which is usually found in the formlines to the right of the dam's name. Now simply calculate the approximate number of months that have elapsed since the whelping date occurred!
Now enter the age in months!
Next Page: Racing Weight
Greyhound Age Handicapper
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 2012 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
| 2011 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| 2009 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| 2008 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 |
| 2007 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 49 |
| 2006 | 72 | 71 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 61 |
| 2005 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 |
| 2004 | 96 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 86 | 85 |
© 2012 Dan Albright
How to use the chart:
- Find the month this set of races is being run and circle the number above it.
- Point at the month the hound was born and move your finger down that column until it's on the line showing the year the dog was born.
- Add the number you circled in the top row (0 - 11) to the number your finger is pointing at.
- The sum of the two numbers is roughly the hound's age in months.
Next Page: Racing Weight
