A GUIDE TO RACING

                TRACK BY TRACK WITH PROFIT RATING.

BELLE VUE  (3)

One of my most profitable tracks over the years for winning money. A standard trip of 470m gives a greyhound every opportunity to really stretch out along these long straights and you tend to find that there is minimal amounts of trouble. Admittedly the 1st bends are slightly on the tight side but this track gives every chance to a greyhound especially those who come from off the pace.

Brough Park (Newcastle) (14)

Those of us who have been in the game a long time still refer the Fossway Stadium as Brough Park and is another track which gives ample opportunity for a dog to come from off the pace. One piece of advise is to try and watch as much racing from Newcastle live as possible as the race card comments are the worst in the country. Newcastle rates as one of the tracks I am most likely to swerve without information.

Coventry (13)

The youngest of the tracks racing at the moment Coventry is one of the few tracks I bet at that does not have a bags contract. This makes punting on graded races very difficult unless you are a regular. The one time I would recommend betting at the Midlands track is on a Sunday where they have an open race card every week. Although the quality is not always of the highest standard they are competitive and it is often possible to pick up some value at a track which isn’t the most difficult to run first time up.

Crayford (15)

The Kent track has always been a no go area for me unless in an Open race there is a greyhound guaranteed to lead over the 380m trip. The tight bends and the circumference of the circuit make it very difficult to bet with confidence. However the 540m trip does give an opportunity for wide runners who stay further to pick up races at big prices with a race full of early pace.

Hall Green (4)

Arguably Birmingham’s premier track the 480m trip has to be one of the fairest in the country. The track does hold some prestigious competitions throughout the year including the Blue Riband in March, the Gymcrack in April and the Produce in October. The class of grader is fair and the 1st bend is not to severe. One tip at Hall Green if wet then back trap 6 especially if it stays further.

Hove (5)

One of the largest gallops in the country, a superb running surface and sweeping bends. This track is fair to the early paced type mind you at a standard trip of 515 takes some getting and gives the strong finisher ample opportunity to get home. Having said that I prefer to bet at Hove in Open races where the standard is normally very high, especially on sprint races where the 285m trip sorts out the men from the boys and is one of my top recommendations. Competitions to look out for the Sussex Cup, the Regency and the Brighton Belle.

Monmore Green (6)

Monmore is another track which offers greyhounds every chance with its wide straights and big bends. The strength of the grading however does put me off on occasions especially over 6 bends which I personally find a betting graveyard. Like its Hove counterpart I find it a good track to bet on Open Races especially over the standard 480m trip.

Nottingham (7)

Colwick park is a track that should be given careful consideration to when looking for value. An essential thing to look for is experience. A greyhound would benefit hugely from a look round the track when going Open racing. The long if somewhat tight straights offer the chance of minimum trouble at the 1st bend and overall is a fair running track. Rule number 1 at Nottingham make sure you have  a trial under your belt before parting with the hard earned.

Oxford (8)

This nicely maintained track offers a fair chance of success with its standard trip of 450m, however you do need a certain amount of early pace at the Sandy Lane venue. The bends cannot be described as the harshest but the 595m trip has the most precarious run to the 1st bend in the country and is a definite no go. Offers good opportunity for ante post betting with good competitions including the Pall Mall, Trafalgar Cup and Cesarewitch.

Perry Barr (12)

Spent many a year commentating here and often made a decent profit. Not a track for Open race fans but does present decent graded fair. A sound gallop not to dissimilar to Hall Green. The amount and turnover of trainers always worries me but is a track that has plenty of gambles. Often like backing back runners in wet conditions from trap 6.

Romford (9)

The London road track is one of the tightest in the country and like Crayford lends itself to early pace. The 400m trip is lightning fast and the 1st bend is unforgiving. The 540m trip however gives the more powerful greyhound to stretch out down the far side and is a good middle distance trip. Romford cannot however be put in my top 5 of profitable tracks and over the years I have bet here only sparingly. The one cash cow at the track would be the 235m sprint trip in Open races which tend to be supported regularly but are normally low on class, hence a short price but winning favourite.

Sheffield (10)

Owlerton has always been a puzzle to me in how to make sure that any greyhound you bet makes the 1st corner. Now over the years I have made the majority of my money with back runners and Sheffield does not come into that category for me. Although the 480m trip is not the sternest, you have to be in contention approaching the 3rd bend as the track is not the widest and tends to encounter a lot of trouble. If Betting at Sheffield make sure it’s Open racing over 480m or more.

Sunderland (1)

Now we come to my favourite betting track in the country and most people will say I am mad. But honestly 28% of my winning profit over the last 6 years has come from Sunderland. It has one of the most active markets in the country and in my opinion the most accurate for betting purposes with a decent percentage. Greyhounds will invariably be short but the outsiders are priced up accordingly. The 1st bend at Sunderland is notorious but again in my opinion is a fair running track and if raining a benefit for traps 5 and 6. One piece of advice at Sunderland, look for puppies with a half decent run on debut and a chance of making the corner and take the early price.

Swindon (11)

Having spent half my teens at Swindon you would think I would be all over it. But to be honest even with its long straights and sweeping bends there is still too much trouble in running  at the Wiltshire venue for my liking, having said that the 509m trip is one of the best and fairest in the country but sadly not used enough. I would have liked to have said that the graded strength had improved over the years but i would be lying and the standard of Open racing is not the best. Only positive if like Sunderland it is very wet get on the trap 5 and 6 combination. One of the best money making schemes in the country.

Wimbledon (16)

The home of the Derby is one I do not venture to very often. However the standard of grade there is good and when there is Open racing it is of a very good standard. Getting money on at the graded meetings however I have always found difficult and is a track for gambles going wrong. Having had countless tips from people in the know at Plough lane it always amazes me that half the country know and a greyhound will go off at a ridiculous price and still get beat. Right track for the derby but nothing else.

Yarmouth (2)

I hadn’t really seen a lot of Yarmouth until it recently appeared on the Bags scene. And I have to say that it is one of my most profitable tracks. Although the 462m is a bit on the sharp side it is a fair running track and gives the back runner every opportunity. A great track for backing bitches out of season especially with early pace who’m can get away from the field.