Greyhound Betting Glossary: A–Z of Key Terms

The Language of Greyhound Betting

Greyhound racing has its own vocabulary — here is every term you need. Whether you are reading a racecard for the first time or trying to decode a comment thread on a tipping forum, this glossary covers the words and phrases that appear most frequently in greyhound betting. Definitions are kept concise and practical. If a term has a specific betting implication, it is noted.

A–F

Accumulator (Acca) — A bet combining two or more selections into a single wager. All selections must win for the bet to pay out. The odds multiply across each leg, producing large potential returns but very low strike rates.

Ante Post — A bet placed on a future event before the final field is confirmed. In greyhound racing, ante post markets open for major events like the Derby and St Leger. If your selection does not run, you lose your stake — no refund.

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) — A bookmaker promotion where you take an early price and, if the Starting Price is higher, the bookmaker pays the SP instead. You always receive whichever price is better. Not all bookmakers offer BOG on greyhounds.

Betfair Starting Price (BSP) — The starting price generated by the Betfair exchange, calculated from the weight of unmatched money in the market at the moment the race starts. Different from the official SP compiled from on-course bookmakers.

Bumped — A race comment indicating a dog was physically contacted by another dog during the race, typically at the first bend. A dog that was bumped may have run below its true ability, making it a potential improver next time.

Calculated Time — An adjusted time used at some tracks to account for the distance between the traps and the first timing beam (the run-up). Calculated time removes the run-up element and measures only the time over the official race distance.

Closer — A dog whose running style involves racing at the rear of the field early on and finishing strongly in the final straight. Closers depend on the pace being fast enough to tire the leaders and on getting a clear run through the field.

Combination Forecast — A forecast bet covering all possible finishing orders of three or more selected dogs in first and second. Three selections produce six bets; four produce twelve. Also known as a perm forecast.

Dead Heat — When two or more dogs cross the finishing line simultaneously and cannot be separated. Dead heat rules apply to bets: your stake is divided by the number of dead-heaters and paid at full odds on the reduced portion.

Each Way (EW) — Two bets in one: a win bet and a place bet. In UK greyhound racing, place terms are usually first or second at quarter the win odds. A £10 each way bet costs £20 total.

Favourite — The dog with the shortest odds in a race, reflecting the market’s view that it is the most likely winner. In UK graded greyhound racing, the favourite wins roughly 33% to 35% of the time.

Form — A dog’s recent racing record, typically displayed as a sequence of finishing positions. Recent form is read right to left: the most recent run is on the right. A form line of 321 means the dog finished third, then second, then first in its last three outings.

Forecast — A bet requiring you to predict the first and second finishers in a race. A straight forecast requires the exact order; a reverse forecast covers both orderings.

G–L

GBGB — Greyhound Board of Great Britain. The governing body responsible for the regulation of licensed greyhound racing in the UK. GBGB-licensed tracks operate under a regulated framework covering dog welfare, racing integrity, and grading.

Going — The condition of the racing surface. In greyhound racing, the going is primarily affected by weather conditions — rain makes the sand surface slower and heavier, while cold or dry conditions produce a faster track. Unlike horse racing, there is no formal going description published before greyhound meetings.

Grade — The classification assigned to a dog based on its recent racing times, determining which races it competes in. UK tracks use letter-number systems (e.g., A1, B3, D4) with A1 being the highest grade. Dogs move between grades based on performance.

Handicap — A race format where dogs receive staggered starts based on their assessed ability. Faster dogs start behind slower dogs, with the aim of producing a competitive finish. The start distances are set by the track handicapper.

Hare — The mechanical lure that greyhounds chase during a race. The hare runs on a rail system around the inside of the track, maintaining a consistent distance ahead of the field. Different tracks use different hare types (inside or outside rail).

Jackpot — A Tote pool bet requiring you to pick the winners of a set number of consecutive races, usually six. Jackpot pools can roll over if there is no winner, accumulating to significant sums.

Kennel — The trainer’s establishment where greyhounds are housed, fed, exercised, and prepared for racing. The kennel is effectively the dog’s training base, and kennel form refers to the collective performance of all dogs from the same trainer.

Lay Bet — A bet placed on a betting exchange against a dog winning. The layer profits if the dog loses and pays out if it wins. Lay bets are only available on exchanges (Betfair, Smarkets), not at traditional bookmakers.

Lids — The front gates of the starting traps. “The lids open” means the race has started. The phrase is interchangeable with “traps open” in greyhound racing commentary.

Lucky 15 — A permed bet on four selections consisting of 15 bets: four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold. Offers coverage if only one or two selections win.

M–R

Middle Runner (M) — A dog that typically races in the middle of the pack, neither on the rail nor running wide. Middle runners are the most adaptable to different trap draws and are least affected by draw position.

NAP — A tipster’s strongest selection of the day. Derived from the card game Napoleon, a NAP represents the selection the tipster is most confident about. The next-best selection is called the NB (next best).

Non-Runner — A dog withdrawn from a race before the start. In standard betting, non-runner bets are voided and stakes returned. In ante post betting, non-runner stakes are lost.

Odds-On — Odds shorter than evens, meaning you risk more than you stand to win. A dog at 4/6 is odds-on: a £6 bet returns £10 (£4 profit plus £6 stake). Odds-on selections are expected to win more often than not.

Open Race — A race not restricted by grading, typically attracting the best dogs at a track. Open races feature higher-quality fields than graded races, and favourites tend to win at a higher rate because class separation is more pronounced.

Overround — The bookmaker’s margin built into a set of odds. Calculated by summing the implied probabilities of all runners in a race. An overround of 115% means the bookmaker retains a theoretical 15% margin on the total money wagered.

Place — A finishing position that qualifies for a payout in an each way or place bet. In UK greyhound racing, place terms are typically first and second (two places).

Railer (R) — A dog that naturally runs close to the inside rail. Railers benefit from inside trap draws (especially trap 1) and can be disadvantaged when drawn wide, as they need to cross the field to reach the rail.

Reserve — A substitute dog that takes the place of a withdrawn runner before the race. Reserves are listed on the racecard and step in if a named runner is scratched before the off.

Reverse Forecast — A forecast bet covering two dogs to finish first and second in either order. Effectively two straight forecasts in one bet, so the stake is doubled. A £5 reverse forecast costs £10.

S–Z

Sectional Time — The time recorded for a specific segment of a race, typically between bends or timing points. Sectional times reveal how a dog distributed its effort during the race and are more informative than overall finishing times for comparing running styles.

Starting Price (SP) — The official odds at which a dog starts a race, determined by on-course bookmaker prices at the moment the traps open. SP is the default settlement price for bets placed without a fixed price.

Straight Forecast — A bet predicting the first and second finishers in the exact order. Pays a dividend determined by the starting prices of both dogs. Only one permutation, so the stake is a single unit.

Tissue — A bookmaker trader’s initial set of odds for a race, compiled before the market opens. Tissue prices are based on the trader’s assessment of each dog’s form, draw, and chances, adjusted for the desired overround.

Trap — The numbered starting box from which a dog begins a race. UK greyhound races use six traps, numbered 1 (inside) to 6 (outside), each with a corresponding jacket colour: 1 red, 2 blue, 3 white, 4 black, 5 orange, 6 black-and-white stripes.

Tricast — A bet predicting the first, second, and third finishers in exact order. A straight tricast is one bet; a combination tricast covers all permutations of three or more selections (six bets for three dogs, 24 for four). Tricast dividends can be substantial.

Wide Runner (W) — A dog that naturally runs towards the outside of the track. Wide runners suit outside trap draws (especially traps 5 and 6) and can be disadvantaged from inside positions where they are forced to race against their preferred line.

Weight — A dog’s body weight, recorded before each race and displayed on the racecard. Weight changes between races can indicate fitness, conditioning, or health issues. Significant changes (1 kilogram or more from baseline) are worth investigating.

From A to Z — Now Use It

Bookmark this page. Come back when you need it. The vocabulary of greyhound betting is not large, but it is specific, and knowing it fluently means you can read racecards, follow commentary, and understand market dynamics without pausing to translate. Every term on this page will appear in your betting life sooner or later — and now, when it does, you will know what it means.