Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.
Unfortunately, I know of no tracks that actually print "first to turn times" in their program anymore. This was a great handicapping tool and I wish they'd bring it back. Until they do, all a handicapper can do is compare first turn calls in the program and try to get some idea of which dogs are going to be there first.
Next, try to figure out which dogs are going to be going into the first turn together and where those dogs run on the track. This way, you can get some idea of which dogs might be running into each other or getting in each other's way.
The first turn is notorious for accidents, bumps and even dogs flying the turn, as they say. Cornering at up to 45 mph is tricky, even for a greyhound. I pay special attention to dogs who run outside or wide when I look at first turn calls. Dogs who run inside, of course, have an advantage, but only if they're going to be on the inside at the turn.
If I see that a dog has more than one trouble comment for the first turn, I make sure that I do my best to imagine which other dogs will be affected by this. I've saved myself some money by realizing that a dog that looks like a contender probably will be in a pileup on the first turn because of another dog.
Track condition can play a big role in how easily the dogs make it around the first turn, also. In the first few races, the track is liable to have been groomed into good condition. It's firm and the dogs can get traction as they go around it.
By the later races though, especially if the track isn't raked or watered down, there can be a lot of loose dirt on the first turn. This can lead to dogs sliding or even stubbing their toes. Sometimes, this actually favors the slower dogs who get to the turn after the leaders.
At a slower speed and without other dogs to bump them, sometimes the closers come out of the first turn in better shape than the breakers. Look at the dogs who run mid track or inside in later races and see how they do on the first turn. Pay particular attention to which dogs run outside and wide, because these dogs often are at a big disadvantage in the later races, if the track hasn't been groomed.
Greyhound Dog Racing.