7 - Greyhound Racing Weights
In this section, I explain why knowing a greyhound's racing weight is so important and how small fluctuations in weight may effect track performances. I also give my reasons for not throwing away old race programmes with a view to studying future dog weights.
What's this Greyhound's Weight?
Greyhound Predictor Version 2.0 allows all racing weights of dogs to be entered in either Kilos (Kgs) or Pounds (Lbs).
All English, Scottish, Welsh, Australian, New Zealand and European greyhounds are weighed in Kilograms. Irish and American dogs in pounds!
Dogs on average weigh between 28 - 36 Kilos = 62 - 80 Lbs. and stand 71-76 cms tall, being larger in size then bitches, they frequently come out on top when bumping or baulking occurs between them. Dogs are generally thought fearless when racing and display incredible determination and bravery to the great pleasure of their owners, trainers and the vast crowds that watch.
However, some male racing dogs consistently find trouble in races and could be considered a little clumsy! Some of the heaviest 'long striding dogs' can weigh in excess of 40kg = 88lbs and are usually better suited to wider galloping tracks, although they do have an advantage over bitches when conditions underfoot become wet or sloppy, as they take less strides to run around a circuit!
Bitches on the other hand, average between 22 - 31 Kilos = 48 - 68 Lbs. and stand 68 - 71 cms tall. They protect and look after themselves a little more than dogs when racing and generally show 'good trackcraft', as being smaller in size, they can often squeeze through racing gaps that larger dogs wouldn't dare to go and also have the advantage of sometimes being able to slip under the grill a little quicker then dogs, when initially breaking from the traps!
Knowing the current weight of a greyhound is extremely important, as it provides the opportunity to compare today's running weight with previous racing weights from past races, in order to determine the correct racing weight condition of a dog.
However, finding out today's racing weights may prove difficult, as the only way of knowing the weight of a greyhound is to actually go to your local track and check the race weights! This is a major advantage in selecting winners and is why so many dog people love going greyhound racing!
I suggest the 2nd thing all 'greyhound predictors' should remember do when attending a meeting, is to check out the 'greyhound weight sheet' displayed at your local stadium or park!
Advancements in modern day technology may in the future afford 'off track punters' with this current weight information, although, many of us will still not know a dog's previous racing weights in order to compare them. However, those more astute "racing anoraks" may still check previous weights, by simply referring back to their more recent old race programmes.
If a dogs weight 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 for this dog to a normal racing weight.
Now enter this greyhound's weight in kilos or Lbs.
What's this greyhound's current weight condition?
Greyhound Predictor v2.0 allows all types of greyhound weight conditions to be simulated!
All trainers will try to maintain a dog's general level of fitness, this can best be observed by studying the variations in a dog's racing weight!
Each greyhound has their own optimum weight, this is their "perfect racing weight" perhaps only known to the trainer and maybe the owners! When a dog weighs close to this weight, this usually implies the dogs fully tuned up and therefore ready to produce it's best track performances.
I suggest, you initially start trialing dogs around the GP Racetrack, to fully understand how different weight variations and changes in weight conditions effect the running performances of both dogs and bitches. Please note: This is only fully functional in the full registered version!
Dogs vary in weight from race to race. In UK 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 dog racing rules.
Under Weight
Any greyhound weighing below their normal racing weight is said to be 'down in weight' which is always considered to be a good positive sign! since losing weight suggests this dog will race fitter having been well exercised. I personally believe 'under weight dogs' produce fractionally slower than normal sectional times, but will compensate for this by having a little 'more stamina' than usual at the end of a race.
Occasionally a few dogs when kennelled for a short period of time before racing, will be prone to 'kennel fretting' - become nervous or over excited - and for this reason 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 results in greyhounds running inconsistently and not performing to the best of their abilities (missed breaks, early faders etc.).
Please note: any greyhound puppy's running with an 'under weight racing condition' may sometimes also be considered a negative sign!
Normal Weight
When there is little or 'no weight variation' between current or previous racing weights, then you should always select a 'normal weight condition'. This is always seen as a good sign! as the 'consistency of weight' indicates to the general well being of the dog!
Any greyhound that had previously in it's last race been thought well 'down in weight' and was racing tonight at approximately the same race weight, should still perhaps be considered down in weight! even though it's weight remains the same! Just as a greyhound previously running well 'over weight' and remaining at that weight for it's next race, may still be considered up in weight!
Over Weight
Most 'canine racers' returning to the track after a short rest or spell of lamness, might be considered a little race rusty and maybe 'up in weight' which is generally thought a negative sign! as it suggests they've been overfed or perhaps not exercised enough. I personally consider this heavier weight condition makes them initially stronger in the early stages of a race and genuinely believe 'over weight dogs' produce fractionally faster than normal sectional times, although they generally will 'start to fade' a little sooner then they would normally do in the latter stages of a race!
I believe dog handlers may occasionally elect to put a bit of weight on a greyhound, in order to help a dog trap out faster, 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 pups putting on weight is alternatively considered a good sign, as it suggests they're still growing and open to improvement!
Dogs weight condition = Not Known
If as is generally the case a dog's race weight is not known then simply select Not Known.
Knowing the weight and racing condition of a greyhound, is usually only afforded to 'trackside punters' who are able to compare today's weight changes if any, against previous running weights displayed in their official racecards. When weighing up the formlines of a dog race, the one vital factor, besides perhaps the racetimes, age, 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 study a greyhound's weight, combined with an accurate estimation of it's 'perfect weight' is of vital importance to 'The Science of Greyhound Racing Prediction' as variations in a dog's race weight always play a significant role in obtaining accurate predictions and is why so many 'greyhound people' like going to the dogs!
However, dog weights can be very misleading, lets imagine a situation for example, that 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 tonight at a weight = 27.6 kg. Would you consider her 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 weights are so often misunderstood! In the example above, 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 weight = 28.0 kg then I would have considered her to be 0.4 kg under weight!
All 'predictors of dog races' will understand the importance of accurately assessing the perfect weight of a greyhound and will appreciate, a greyhound up in weight can still be under weight and a greyhound down in weight can still be over weight! Most of us already know that dogs are generally heavier then bitches, although interestingly enough, actually knowing the exact weight of a dog, is on it's own, of little use to 'professional punters' unless you're able to compare current racing weights with previous weights, in order to determine this greyhound's true weight condition.
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 like 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 and I will add them to my greyhound museum project! All names of contributors to my collection will be mentioned!
Now enter this greyhound's weight condition - Under, Normal, Over or Not-Known.
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