Dog racing in the US isn’t just for American fans
There are major differences between US dog racing and European, Australian, Asian and New Zealand dog racing. The biggest difference is that US races have 8 dogs and the others have 6. I guess that makes it easier to pick winners in non-US races, but I wonder if the odds are that good.
In the US, when there are one or two scratches in a race, dogs that can’t run due to health issues, often the winnings aren’t that great. This is probably because there are fewer betting combinations. So, I wonder, does this generally apply to 6 dog races?
The race programs, called race cards in some places, are slightly different when you compare US and non-US tracks. In the US, tracks have turns. In other countries they have turns. In the US, calls are in numerical notation, written below the call name. Elsewhere they are simply expressed as a series of numbers with no title above them to tell you that these are the calls from “interrupt” or “shutdown” to End, which is apparently the same all over the world.
A very big difference is where the bait is positioned in different places. In the US it moves around the inside of the track or to the left of the dogs as they race. In other countries the “artificial rabbit”, as it is called, runs around the outside of the track. This causes American riders to run closer to the inside rail. With the external lure, the dogs tend to run more on average. This matters in handicapping.
Wherever the greyhounds run, they race just as fast and are just as exciting to watch. Whether you’re betting on BAGS races in Nottingham in England, a race in Brisbane in Australia or the oldest track in the USA, Derby Lane in Florida, there’s nothing quite like the action and satisfaction of winning on the dog track.
Of course, when betting on races in another country, it is wise to seek advice from handicappers who are familiar with the races there. While there is a lot of information available about racing in other countries, there is a real lack of it when trying to get in the way of racing in the US. Where there were once national magazines and newsletters, there is now only one full-scale magazine published by the Greyhound Owners Association, and almost no new books for the disabled.
The best advice I can give non-US bettors is this: Get as much information as possible before you throw your money down. Do your research and talk to other bettors in online forums and at your favorite track. Read free handicap articles on my site and any others you can find. Then practice first on paper before placing real bets. And, of course, bet with a reputable company, preferably one of the big ones that are well known in your country. And, of course, luck.
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