Greyhound racing and horse racing are very similar. The only two inevitable differences between them are that horses need jockeys to run them and greyhounds need a lure to chase. Apart from these, there is not much to separate the two sports. Greyhound racing features dogs chasing a lure around an ovular track. The dog that crosses the finish line before any of its opponents is considered the winner of the race. Racing greyhounds were owned and raised only by the rich people in ancient societies. Only they could afford to meet their high maintenance costs.
Greyhound racing in Australia
The growing popularity of this sport has been influenced mainly by the betting factor. A lot of people in Australia fancy a bet when it comes to racing greyhounds. The fact that betting has been legalized by the country's government means that anyone can place bets on the sport. Winning money out of it depends largely on the research you are willing to do and the time you can dedicate towards the sport. Odds calculated by the bookmakers can be referred to while placing a bet on the dogs. If you have the time and take the effort to go watch the races, you could check for the performances of the dog you want to place your money on, check the competitors and their strengths, etc. Betting on greyhound races has become a widespread hobby in Australia.
Betting Tips
There are a few tips you can consider before placing your bet on a greyhound. A male dog around two years old is said to be at its peak when it to comes to performance speed. A female greyhound reaches its peak when it reaches the age of three years. The best way to pick a dog that can win you come money is to do a handicap. This involves a study about all the dogs participating in the race. You will have to check for the dogs that stand no chance of winning and cross them off your list of potential candidates.
This way you can see which dogs you should not bet on. Keep crossing off names until you've got only, say, 3-4 dogs left. Then study these dogs separately and choose the best of them. Approach trainers and find out the strengths and weaknesses of their dogs. If you cannot pick a clear winner out of the 3-4 dogs left on your shortlist, it's better to change focus towards another race or event as betting on one of them is only as good as taking a chance.
Another point to consider is the track. Since racing greyhounds run on ovular tracks, it is favourable to pick a dog within the first three boxes. They have a better chance to make up ground towards the finish line than the others. You must also do a research to see which dog is the quickest one off the mark. This is a very important factor and more often than not, it decides the outcome of a race.