Most Popular Dog Racing Events
If you have a love of labs burning in you, you are probably interested in everything about the dog racing games, too, as this is the place where two of the greatest passions in the world combine – the love of labs and betting. Anybody who’s had a pet dog knows that man’s best friend loves nothing more than to run fast and have fun, and dog racing events are a great source of entertainment for human spectators and canine competitors alike. Not only that, but labs are perfect running partners for men and women keeping fit, thanks to their muscular build and short coats, meaning labs are great for both the short distance, high octane excitement of dog racing, and for long distance, keep fit exercise.
The breed is also renowned for being both amicable and high on energy, which is another natural fit for the world of running while making them perfect family pets away from the track at the same time. Their affectionate character has made them one of the most popular choices for individuals and families as pets, and their natural strength makes them perfect for running over pretty much any distance. As such, dog racing is a great way to spend time watching and betting on, and the bettors might just make a little profit in the bargain. But how do you know which are the best dog racing games that you need to do sports betting on? It’s easy, and we’ve done the research.
The Heritage of Dog Racing
Although labs are great runners, dog racing’s history largely involves greyhounds, which have long been known as sleek and fast animals. This is ironic, as, given the choice, greyhounds are an inherently lazy breed and far lower on energy than labs. It is quite surprising given how long the relationship between man and dog is (perhaps over 30,000 years) and how many roles dogs have had in that time, from police dogs to rescue animals, guard dogs and guide dogs for the blind, that modern dog racing only began in the 20th century.
It was in 1912 that American Owen Patrick Smith invented the mechanical hare and ushered in the era of dog racing. Smith’s aim was to end the killing of jackrabbits and instead turn the energy of dogs into a sporting event akin to horse racing. To this end, he opened the first dog racing track in California in 1919, which was replaced in 1920 with a more modern track and the mechanical hare. It was a few years later, in 1926, that the sport made its way to England, where it took off and was soon more popular than in the United States.
The combination of late start times and urban track locations made attending events incredibly convenient for the working class, who comprised the majority of the audience. Just after World War Two was the high point for the sport in the United Kingdom, with the sport waning in popularity in later decades. In the USA, many states have banned dog racing. However, the sport has spread around the world and exists in a professional format in not just the USA and UK but also Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Mexico. As with horse racing, on-site betting is a popular pastime for spectators.
Popular Derbies and Cups Around the World
Every sport has its global highlights, from horse racing’s Kentucky Derby and Grand National to the Ryder Cup in golf. The premier dog racing events take place in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. This is great for locals who can attend regularly and also makes for an easily accessible and fun diversion for holidaymakers enjoying a well-earned vacation. Greater popularity also means plenty of betting opportunities, both in-person by the side of the track and online, although there’s nothing quite like the dramatic atmosphere of a live race to get the heart racing and the adrenaline surging.
- English Greyhound Derby – The inaugural race took place in 1927, and today the English Greyhound Derby is the top event on the British calendar. Over the years it’s changed venues a few times, most recently being held at Towcester Greyhound Stadium.
- Scottish Greyhound Derby – This event had a long history, running from 1928 until 2019. It remains to be seen whether the Scottish Greyhound Derby will return or if this long-running event has had its last race.
- Irish Greyhound Derby – First held at Harold’s Cross in 1928, which alternated as the host venue with Shelbourne Park for decades. These days, the biggest race in Ireland takes place at Shelbourne Park only.
- East Anglian Cup – Founded at the peak of dog racing popularity in the UK in 1947, the East Anglian Cup was unlicensed for its first 28 years of operation. In 1975, it became licensed, and its top prize of £15,000 made it one of the top races in the industry.
- Select Stakes – Not one but two races for greyhounds, with an English and Irish event each using the same name. The prize money is similar too, with £10,000 for the Nottingham-based UK race and €10,000 for Ireland’s Waterford-based event.
- Melbourne Cup – Australia’s top dog racing event is the Melbourne Cup, naturally hosted in the eponymous city. From its origin in 1956, it has a prize fund of a million dollars and is the richest dog racing event in the world today.
- Sandown Cup – Australia’s second biggest dog racing event takes place at the same venue as the Melbourne Cup: Sandown Greyhound Racing Club. And the prize money is nothing to be sniffed at. At $250,000, the Group 1 Sandown Cup is the most lucrative staying race in the country.
- Greyhound Racing – The frenetic activity of dog racing coupled with an energetic atmosphere, track-side betting, and refreshments make the premier dog racing events a great occasion for both locals and travelers alike.
The popularity of greyhound racing is greatest in the British Isles and Australia, as reflected on this list, with other events occurring in countries such as Mexico and the USA. Many have rich heritages going back decades or close to a century, reflecting the enduring appeal of these fun races.
What Sets Greyhound Racing Apart as a Global Favorite
Dog racing is very hard to predict, which can make it an enticing prospect for gamblers and a thrilling spectacle for fans. The greyhound’s excellent fast-twitch muscle ratio helps make them highly athletic. Gamblers, meanwhile, have to decide strategically whether to back a lighter dog, with faster acceleration and better turning speed, or a heavier dog, who is slower off the line but will have better stamina. Over a million people attend dog racing events in the UK over the course of a year (the 2019 figure was 1.2 million), with London and the Midlands among its top areas. One of the reasons for its enduring popularity is the social aspect, with some families or social groups habitually attending as a community tradition
There are even greyhound racing clubs where fans meet up to have a chinwag about the sport and betting on it. Betting on-track was a key draw for many spectators early on, and the easing of legislation in the UK to enable off-track betting did reduce spectator numbers. In more recent times, off-track wagers made at betting shops have been substantially replaced by betting online from the comfort of one’s own home. This quick and convenient alternative also makes it easy to bet just before a race starts and then watch it on TV or online. Today betting online on Greyhound races has evolved immensely, and bettors have many excellent perks and rewards, depending on their chosen online betting platform. But still, most of the fans prefer betting on-track.
Mankind has been friends with dogs for longer than human civilization has existed, and having them act as sporting protagonists in their own right is something special. No other animal has its own sporting category without any human participation, not horses, not dolphins, and not camels. Ex-racers are also often adopted as pets, and their lazy personalities mean that they can be ideal for owners who have limited time for walking. Greyhounds are also great companions for runners to exercise with, as are and other dog breeds such as border collies. And, as mentioned above, dog racing events are a great occasion for taking the whole family, unlike some other sports that have problems revolving around truculent fans causing trouble.
Excitement and Unpredictability of Dog Races
Racing is an exciting concept and it is easy to see why the idea works so well in a variety of sporting categories, from people running to driving cars, piloting boats, or riding horses. Last-minute comebacks, the lead competitor overdoing it and getting passed, or a neck-and-neck battle for the line all make racing highly entertaining. Dog racing is no different in that regard, but has the added feature of the dog competing by itself, without help (or hindrance) from a human ally. Greyhounds are a strange breed, being both very fast and highly agile while at the same time being pretty laid back when not actually racing.
Chasing a mechanical hare to get their ancient canine instincts going, the dogs hurtle around the course (distances varying but are often around 500 yards long) to see who can cross the line first. Their speed is incredible, hitting around 40mph to 45mph, which, for context, compares to just under 28mph for Usain Bolt at his very best. Dog racing events are exciting and family-friendly, which has made them the sixth most popular spectator sport in the United Kingdom, with events taking place at 21 licensed stadia throughout the country. In late 2023, Wolverhampton Racecourse was granted approval for a new greyhound racing track, indicating how strong the sport currently is (Australia has 65 greyhound tracks, and Ireland has 17).
Perhaps the best example of just how exciting and close the racing can be is when, in 2011, Droopys Djokovic, Ayamzagirl, and Killishan Masai had a triple dead-heat and had to be declared joint winners at the Romford Stadium in London. And making things even spicier is the ready access to betting on the outcomes of dog races. This includes the standard win bet (and each way option) plus forecasting the top two dogs or even three.
Learn How to Bet Online on Dog Racing
If your love of labs is not enough for betting at actual dog racing, you can always resort to betting online on dog racing games. First of all, you should know that in today’s time, there are many different programs that offer different odds, which is why you should know all the tips on how to use those odds in your favor.
So, if you are thinking about betting online on dog racing games, think of it as any other sport where you bet on a single person against a group of others – a marathon for example. The odds are positioned in an exactly same way as they would be for a marathon. So, for example, in the decimal system, if dog A has odds of 2.0, whereas dog B has odds of 8.0, it is more likely that the dog with the smaller decimal wins. However, if you bet $50 on the dog A, you’ll win 100 back, whereas if you win the same amount on dog B, you’ll get $400 back (50×8). So, you need to find your golden rule about placing a bet on decimals.
Live betting on the other hand, is somewhat easier because it doesn’t require you to have any previous knowledge or even see previous results – you see how the race goes and you place a bet instantly. Of course, you can do this efficiently if you are betting at racing games using online casino apps.
Dog Racing Betting Strategies and Odds
The thing about the dog races is that they require you to build a strategy around the odds that are in your favor. However, you should also make a good decision on where to place your bets on. We strongly believe that the best place to take part in sports betting on dog races are legal online casinos because of two very important reasons.
First, you have the convenience of staying home and yet, being able to place live bets on any race you want, as long as you want it and regardless of where it is. Of course, you can use the convenience of legal online casinos through their mobile casino apps as well, which gives you even more comfort.
Second, because online casinos offer casino bonuses which are great for beginners. Such casino bonuses include welcome bonuses and no deposit casino bonuses which are a gift for signing up to the casino, and you get to win real money prizes as well!
Other Benefits of Using Online Casinos for Dog Racing
Betting
The features mentioned so far are not the only reasons you should use legal online casinos to bet on dog racing or any other type of racing. In fact, there are many benefits to using online casinos and bookies, and we will explore them in greater detail in the following section.
Up until now, we mentioned the convenience of legal online casinos and the many amazing bonuses they offer beginner bettors. There are many bonuses for existing users, too, including bet builders, odds boosters, etc. All the perks are supposed to make betting easier for players, giving them extra funds, spins, chips, etc., to use.
We also want to mention the safety of using online casinos and their dedicated apps. Nowadays, most casinos with websites or mobile apps have special safety protocols to keep their players from falling prey to foul play. The websites and apps feature the highest level of protection possible, hiding player information from outsiders to the best of their ability.
Another benefit of online casinos is the quick deposit, withdrawals, and many payment methods available. When you visit a land-based casino and try betting on dog racing, the only options available are paying with cash or a credit card. When betting at online casinos, you can also use e-wallets, which are quite popular and instantaneously transfer funds. You can also use direct bank transfers, often unavailable at land-based casinos.
As if that was not enough, online casinos make the betting experience so much better because there is no waiting; you can choose whichever race you want to bet on in minutes and instantly make your bets. There is no waiting in line or managing through the crowd to see your favorite run the route.
As you can see, there are many benefits to using online casinos for dog racing. If you ever want to try betting at such as casino, Jackpot Casino is a great place to start. It offers a variety of dog races with great odds, bonuses for winners, bonuses for those whose selected dogs finish second or third, etc. You can check out other options at https://www.top10casinos.com/jackpot-city-casino.html. There, you’ll find a ton of other online casinos and sportsbooks, so don’t hesitate to look.
Concluding Thoughts
Online casinos provide unbeatable convenience for wagering on dog racing events from home, whether sat at a desk or curled up on the sofa (perhaps alongside a canine companion). The unique aspect of dog racing is that it is a sporting event that stars man’s best friend rather than human competitors, making it something a little bit apart from every other sporting category in the world. Easily accessible in its heartlands of the British Isles and Australia, it is rising in popularity elsewhere, and the welcoming and family-friendly nature of the sport is another positive.
While dog racing has not been around for as long as might be expected, it is just one more showcase for the enduring bond between mankind and dogs and a great form of entertainment, whether attended in person or watched remotely. It can take time for sports to grow (as soccer has found in the USA), but rising interest may see more tracks open up in more countries soon. As always with betting, remember only to bet what you can afford to lose to keep the wagering a fun little extra and avoid undue financial risk.
