7 - Greyhound Racing Weights
In this section, I shall be explaining how small fluctuations in a dog's weight may effect it's race performance and will be discussing the merits and present urgent need for a modern greyhound museum to be based here in the United Kingdom.
What's this Greyhound's Weight?
Greyhound Predictor Version 2.0 Software Program allows all dog racing weights to be entered in either Kilos or Pounds. All English, Scottish, Australian, New Zealand and European greyhounds are weighed in Kilograms. Irish and American racing dogs in pounds.
Knowing a greyhound's weight is extremely important, as it provides the opportunity to compare current racing weights with previous race weights, in order to determine a dog's true racing weight condition.
Dogs on average weigh between 28 - 36 Kilos = 62 - 80 Lbs. and stand 71-76 cms tall, being larger in size then bitches, they often come out on top when bumping or baulking occurs between them, dogs generally are thought fearless when racing and usually show great determination and bravery to the pleasure of their owners and trainers, however, some male racing dogs consistently find race trouble and may sometimes be considered a little clumsy. Some of these big long striding dogs are perhaps better suited to wider galloping tracks although they do often have an advantage over bitches when racetrack conditions underfoot are wet or sloppy.
Bitches, on the other hand, on average weigh between 22 - 31 Kilos = 48 - 68 Lbs. and stand 68 -71 cms tall, they protect themselves a little more than dogs when racing and generally possess good racing trackcraft, as being smaller in size, they can squeeze through racing gaps that perhaps a bigger dog wouldn't dare to go.
Finding out the correct racing weights may often prove difficult as generally the only way of knowing the current racing weight of a greyhound is to actually go to the track and check out the weights! This is a major advantage in selecting winners given to all 'trackside racegoers' and is a major reason why so many 'dog racing professionals' love to go greyhound racing!
I suggest to all Predictors of races, that the second thing you should always do when attending a meeting, is to check the 'greyhound weight sheet' supplied and displayed at your local dog stadium or park.
Advancements in modern day technology may in the future afford many 'off track punters' with this current weight information, although, many 'stay at home predictors' will still not know previous racing weights in order to compare them, however, those more astute regular 'greyhound enthusiasts' and experienced 'dog punters' might be able to check previous racing weights, by simply referring back to their more recent old race programmes.
If as is generally the case, the current racing weight of a dog is not known, then simply enter your own approximate weight to continue or alternatively leave the weight blank = 00.0 kilos or Lbs, the Predictor greyhound software program will then set the default weight to a normal racing weight.
Now enter this greyhound's weight in kilos or Lbs.
Once the weight of a dog has been entered into the Greyhound Predictor Stat Screen, the following question will be asked:-
What's this greyhound's current weight condition?
All trainers when preparing dogs for racing, will try to maintain a general level of fitness, this can best be observed by studying the variations in a dog's racing weight.
All greyhounds have their own optimum weight known simply to me as their 'perfect racing weight', this weight may only be known perhaps, to the trainer and maybe the dog owners! When a dog weighs close to it's perfect weight, this implies to the racereader that this dogs fully tuned up and therefore, ready to produce it's best racing performance.
I suggest, when first using Greyhound Predictor, you initially start trialing dogs around the GP racetrack in order to fully understand, how different weight variations and changes in weight conditions effect the individual running performances of dogs. Please note this is only fully functional in the full registered version.
All dogs vary in weight from race to race. In United Kingdom and Australian greyhound racing any dog whose weight variation is above or below 1kg or 2.2 Lbs (American dog racing 2 Lbs) from it's previous weight will not be permitted to compete under normal racing weight rules.
Greyhound Predictor V2.0 allows all types of racing weight conditions to be simulated!
Under Weight
A greyhound weighing below it's normal racing weight is said to be 'under weight' or perhaps 'down in weight' and is generally considered a good positive sign! as losing weight suggests this dog will race fitter having been well exercised. I personally believe 'under weight dogs' will produce fractionally slower than normal race sectional times, but will compensate for this by having a little 'more stamina' in the finishing stages of a race.
Occasionally a few dog's when kennelled for a short period of time before racing, will be prone to 'kennel fretting' (become nervous or get over excited) and for these reasons, lose weight rapidly before finally being placed into the starting traps, this on the other hand is always considered, a negative sign as it suggests perhaps a weakness in the racing temperament of the dog, which may result in greyhounds running inconsistently and not performing to the best of their abilities (missed breaks, early faders etc.). Please note, all puppies with an 'under weight racing condition' is also generally considered a negative sign!
Normal Weight
When there is little or 'no weight variation' between a dogs current or previous racing weight, you should select a 'normal racing weight condition', this is usually seen as a good sign as the 'consistency of weight' always indicates to the general well being of the dog. Please note any greyhound that in it's last race had previously been thought well down in weight and was running in today's race weighing approximately the same weight, then perhaps this greyhound should still be considered down in weight, even though the dogs weight remains the same! As a greyhound previously running overweight, remaining at that weight for it's next race should also still be considered up in weight!
Over Weight
Many canine racers returning to the track after a short rest or lamness, maybe considered a little 'over weight' or perhaps 'up in weight'. This is always thought a negative sign, as it suggests they're overfed or perhaps not exercised enough. I personally consider this race weight condition makes the greyhounds initially stronger in the early stages of a race and genuinely believe these 'over weight dogs' produce fractionally faster than normal sectional times, although generally, they will 'start to fade' a little sooner then they would normally do in the latter stages of a dog race.
I believe some dog handlers may occasionally elect to put a bit of weight on a greyhound in order to help dogs trap out faster and produce breaking speeds fractionally quicker then their normal sectional times, giving them perhaps, a better chance to lead up or lie handy with the pace, in order to avoid first bend trouble possible anticipated at the corner!
Please note any young pups putting on weight is alternatively considered a good positive sign, as it suggests the pup is still growing and therefore, open to improvement!
Dogs weight condition = Not Known
If as is generally the case you don't know a dogs weight condition then select Not Known.
Knowing the correct weight or racing condition of a greyhound, is usually only afforded to 'trackside punters' who can workout a dog's true weight condition simply by checking the 'weight sheet' and comparing it against previous racing weights displayed in their official racecards. Personally when weighing up the formlines of a dog race, the one vital factor, besides perhaps the going and the draw, that allows me most to determine which greyhounds to include in bets or permutations, should in theory always be decided by the greyhound's with the best weight condition.
This ability to pre-study a greyhound's weight combined with an accurate estimation of it's 'perfect racing weight' is of vital importance to the 'Science of Greyhound Racing Prediction' as knowing correctly a dog's racing weight condition will always play a significant role in obtaining accurate dog racing predictions and is an important reason why so many 'greyhound people' like going to the dogs!
However, greyhound racing weights can also be very misleading, lets imagine a situation for example, that my favourite greyhound Lady Flyaway has a perfect racing weight = 27.0 kg and having competed in her last race at a weight = 28.0 kg, we find the Lady is running today at a weight = 27.6 kg. Would you consider her racing weight condition to be under weight? ie. down in weight or perhaps over weight? ie. up in weight. Here lies the general confusion to why dog race weights are so often misunderstood! In the above example, I consider Lady Flyaway weighing 27.6 kg is in fact 0.6 kg over weight, as we knew her perfect racing weight = 27.0 kg, however, had we thought her perfect racing weight = 28.0 kg then I would have considered her to be 0.4 kg under weight!
All 'predictors of races' will understand the importance of accurately assessing the perfect weight of a greyhound and will appreciate, greyhounds up in weight can still be under weight and greyhounds down in weight can still be over weight! Most of us already know that dogs generally are heavier then bitches, although interestingly enough, actually knowing the exact weight of a greyhound, is on it's own, of little use to 'professional predictors' unless you're able to compare current racing weights with previous racing weights.
It is therefore, only by collecting these official race programmes can the serious 'dog racing student' study the 'weight variations' displayed further back in past greyhound formlines and is perhaps why so many of us 'racing enthusiasts' enjoy to collect dog programmes, please don't throw them away!! So much old dog racing memorabilia and greyhound collections go to waste! If you happen to find any old greyhound programmes and your thinking of throwing them out, PLEASE DON'T, instead please send them to me! :-)
Now enter this greyhound's weight condition - Under, Normal, Over or Not-Known.
Next Page: Race Times
