7 - Greyhound Racing Weights
In this section, I explain why knowing a dog's weight condition is so important and how small fluctuations in weight may effect it's race performance. I also give my reasons for not throwing away old greyhound programmes with a view to studying future dog race weights.
What's this Greyhound's Weight?
Greyhound Predictor Version 2.0 allows all dog racing weights to be entered in either Kilos (Kgs) or Pounds (Lbs). All English, Scottish, 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 often come out on top when bumping or baulking occurs between them. Generally dogs are thought fearless when racing and usually display incredible determination and bravery to the great pleasure of their owners and trainers.
However, some male racing dogs consistently find trouble in races and may be considered a little clumsy! A few of the very 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 racetrack conditions underfoot become wet or sloppy, as they take less strides to run around a track!
Bitches on the other hand, weigh on 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 possess 'good racing trackcraft', as being smaller in size, they can squeeze through racing gaps that perhaps a larger dog wouldn't dare to go. Bitches also have the advantage of sometimes being able to slip under the grill a little sooner 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 weights from past races, in order to determine the true racing weight condition of a dog.
However, finding out today's racing weights may prove difficult, as generally the only way of knowing the current racing weight of a greyhound is to actually go to your local track and check out the race weights yourself! This is a major advantage in selecting winners given to all 'trackside racegoers' and is one clear reason why so many 'dog racing professionals' love going greyhound racing!
I suggest that the 2nd thing all 'greyhound predictors' should always do when attending a meeting, is to check the 'greyhound weight sheet' 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 a dog's previous racing weights in order to compare them. However, those more astute regular 'greyhound enthusiasts' may be able to check previous racing weights, by simply referring back to their more recent old race programmes.
If a dog's 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 greyhound to a normal racing weight.
Now enter this greyhound's weight in kilos or Lbs.
Once this runners weight has been entered, you will be asked the following question:-
What's this greyhound's current weight condition?
All trainers when preparing greyhounds for racing, 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 over a period of time!
Each individual greyhound will have their own optimum weight, this is their 'perfect racing weight' which may only be known to the trainer and perhaps the owners! When a dog weighs close to it's perfect weight, this usually implies that the dog is fully tuned up and therefore ready to produce it's best racing performances.
I suggest, when 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 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 U.K. 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 V 2.0 allows for all types of greyhound racing weight conditions to be simulated!
Under Weight
Any greyhound weighing below it's normal racing weight is said to be 'down in weight' which is generally considered a good positive sign! as losing weight suggests this runner 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' in the finishing stages 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 get 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 often results in greyhounds running inconsistently and not performing to the best of their abilities (missed breaks, early faders etc.). Please note: any 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 a dogs current or previous racing weight, then select 'normal weight condition'. This is always 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 had previously in it's last race been thought well 'down in weight' and was running tonight at approximately the same weight, then perhaps this greyhound should still 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 lamness, maybe a little race rusty and might be considerd perhaps 'up in weight' which is always thought a negative sign! as it suggests the dog's 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 generally they 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 greyhound 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 a dogs weight condition is not known then simply select Not Known.
Knowing the correct weight condition of a greyhound, is usually only afforded to 'trackside punters' who are able to compare today's weight changes if any, against previous racing 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 pre-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 'racing weights' 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 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 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 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 'race punters' 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 are generally 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, in order to find out this greyhound's true racing 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 'racing enthusiasts' 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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