Greyhound Betting

Greyhound racing has a long history. It first took place in the USA back in 1876 and real hares were used as bait, but the sport as we know it today did not begin until just before the First World War. Oval racing tracks emerged in 1912 and mechanical hares replaced live ones. This was for two reasons: it was very difficult to persuade live hares to follow an oval course, and there were some concerns regarding animal cruelty as real hares were often caught and killed by the greyhounds.

The sport came over to the UK in 1926 and it rapidly became popular and many towns built greyhound courses; by 1927 there were at least forty of them. Unlike horse racing, which always had an aristocratic edge, greyhound racing appealed mainly to the British working class and it became a popular pastime amongst male factory workers and labourers, its main appeal being gambling.

Following the Second World War and the popularity of the sport became more widespread and although it declined somewhat in the 1960s it is still enjoyed by millions. The ability to bet on greyhound races on the web has contributed to a recent upsurge in the sport’s popularity. Currently there are nearly thirty greyhound stadiums and around £75 million is wagers on it every year.

Unlike horse racing, where the jockey can play a major part in the success or failure of his ride, the results of greyhound racing are determined entirely by the animal and its training. The racing life of a greyhound is quite short, generally only three years out of the dogs™ average lifespan of fourteen years, so age is a major consideration when picking a winner. Certainly by the age of four and a half years all greyhounds have passed their peak. The dog’s gender is also something to consider. Although dogs are easier to train than bitches and are more consistent, bitches tend to do better over longer distances.

Although choosing winners is a challenge, particularly for those new to the sport of greyhound racing, doing so and being right can be very rewarding both intellectually and financially. You can bet on greyhound racing and other sports at Coral Sportsbooks online. Coral offer a complete solution to sport betting – you can bet on all popular UK sports and some American sports too, all on one site!