Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.
There are many reasons that people bet on horse races or dog races. For some it is the thrill of gambling and nothing else. Others are just greedy and want to win money. Some do it as a social outing with friends and enjoy the camaraderie and watching the runners. There are people who love horses and there are people who love dogs. Then there are people who love unraveling the mystery of a race by handicapping it.
I fit into all of those categories at one time or another. Sometimes all in the same day. I remember spending the day at the horse track and then zipping over to the dog track to catch the evening program. For instance, a day at Gulfstream Park and then just a few minutes to get to Hollywood Dog Track, now called Mardi Gras, though it was Hollywood Greyhound back in the days when I divided my time between Florida horse racing and Florida greyhound racing.
When summer visited the Northern Hemispheres I'd head north and eastward into the sun and it was Rockingham Park and Seabrook Greyhound, both in New Hampshire. If you think you can handle it, try handicapping and playing a full card of horse races and then handicap the dogs into the wee hours of the morning. Just for a change I'd sometimes play the harness races at Scarborough Downs and then zip down Route 95 to Seabrook for more action on the New Hampshire dog racing.
Because I really work at handicapping and spend time poring over the programs and past performances, not to mention my notes, those schedules were exhausting and I would soon burn out, needing time standing in a cool trout brook to relax and refresh myself before once again entering the trenches. Along the way I met a lot of interesting people, some I will always remember and a few I can't forget.
The gamblers were an interesting mix of people and so were the owners, trainers, and grooms who kept the businesses alive. There has been a lot of bad press about mistreatment of horses and dogs, but you never hear about all the good treatment they get, and believe me, they do get treated well. Most of the people involved with race horses or racing dogs really love the animals and take good care of them.
While some people think it is mean to make greyhounds race or thoroughbreds to race, I think it would be mean not to let them race because they really love it. On the other hand, because they can't speak for themselves, I think we have to make sure there are good laws on the books to protect them and that those laws are enforced. There should be regular inspections to ensure that the animals are getting their just desserts.
There should also be money put aside for the care of the animals after they retire. We have social security and pensions and professional athletes have their own unions and pensions, why not do the same for four legged athletes? I think more people would be willing to bet on the races if they knew that the animals were guaranteed a safe and happy retirement when their racing days were over.
Speaking of safety, one thing that has to happen in the United States is the banning of drugs in animal sports. It just isn't right to mask pain that an animal is experiencing for the sake of getting the horse or dog to race. Also, worm medications do affect how greyhounds run, so no greyhound should race while suffering the effects of worming.
Picking winners is a lot of fun. Following the careers of great runners is fun, too. I hope many more generations will get to enjoy their own Thoroughbred days and Greyhound nights.
Greyhound Dog Racing.