Greyhound Racing Terminology: A Glossary for Nottingham and Beyond

Greyhound Racing Has Its Own Vocabulary

Greyhound racing terminology can feel like a foreign language to newcomers, and even experienced bettors occasionally encounter a term they cannot quite place. The sport has accumulated a century’s worth of jargon — some inherited from horse racing, some unique to the dogs — and every racecard, result line and form guide assumes you understand it. This glossary covers the essential terms you will encounter at Nottingham and every other GBGB-licensed track, organised alphabetically so you can find what you need without scrolling through pages of text. Speak the language of the dogs, and the racecard speaks back.

A–G: Terms and Definitions

BSP (Betfair Starting Price): The starting price calculated by the Betfair exchange based on the aggregate of backed and laid orders at the time a race begins. BSP often differs from the traditional SP and can offer better value on favourites at well-traded meetings.

Bumped: When a dog makes physical contact with another during a race, usually at a bend. Being bumped can cost a dog lengths and alter the result. Denoted as “bk” in racecard comments.

Calculated time: A time adjusted for going conditions and, in some systems, for interference or crowding during the race. Calculated times allow comparison of performances across different meetings and different going conditions. Timeform is the most prominent publisher of calculated times for UK greyhound racing.

Circumference: The total distance around one complete lap of the track. Nottingham’s circumference is 437 metres. Smaller circumferences produce tighter bends, which affects speed and trap bias.

Combination forecast: A forecast bet covering all possible first-and-second finishing orders among three or more selected dogs. A three-dog combination forecast involves six separate bets. The cost multiplies with each additional selection.

CSF (Computer Straight Forecast): The officially calculated dividend for a straight forecast, based on the starting prices of the first two finishers. The CSF determines what a £1 straight forecast pays.

Distance (result): The gap between finishers, measured in lengths. Standard abbreviations include SH (short head), Hd (head), Nk (neck), followed by numerical lengths. One length equals roughly 0.08 seconds.

Each-way: A bet in two parts: one stake on the dog to win, one stake on it to finish in the first two (or sometimes first three, depending on the number of runners). The place part pays at a fraction of the win odds.

EP (Early Pace): A racecard comment indicating that a dog shows speed in the opening section of the race. Dogs with EP tend to be front-runners.

Forecast: A bet requiring you to predict the first and second finishers in exact order. Can be placed as a straight forecast, reverse forecast or combination forecast.

Going: The official assessment of track conditions: fast, normal or slow. The going at Nottingham is determined by the moisture content of the Worksop Grey sand surface and can change during a meeting due to weather or watering.

Grade: The classification of a race by quality. Nottingham uses the standard GBGB grading system: A1 (highest graded level) through A11 and below, plus open races. Grade determines which dogs are eligible for each race.

H–R: Terms and Definitions

Hare: The mechanical lure that the dogs chase around the track. Nottingham uses an Outside Swaffham McGee, which runs on a rail around the outer edge of the circuit. Hare type affects running lines, particularly on bends.

Hock: The joint in a greyhound’s rear leg, equivalent to the human ankle. Hock injuries are the second most common injury type in UK greyhound racing.

Kennel turn: The period between a dog’s races. The standard kennel turn — the minimum rest period between competitive outings — is set by GBGB regulations to ensure dogs are not overraced.

Led (Ld): A racecard comment indicating the dog led at some point during the race, usually from the first bend or earlier.

Lure: See Hare.

Open race: A race with no grade restriction. Open races attract the best available dogs and typically carry higher prize money. The English Greyhound Derby is the most prestigious open race in UK greyhound racing.

Outside Swaffham McGee: A specific type of mechanical lure system used at several UK greyhound tracks, including Nottingham. The lure runs on a rail mounted on the outside of the circuit.

Overround: The bookmaker’s built-in margin on a race, expressed as the total implied probability of all runners. An overround of 120 percent means the bookmaker expects to retain roughly 20 percent of the total stake pool.

Racecard: The published information for each race, including trap numbers, dog names, form figures, best times, grades, weights and trainer details. The racecard is the primary tool for pre-race analysis.

Reverse forecast: A forecast bet covering both possible finishing orders between two selected dogs. Costs two units (two straight forecasts).

Run-up: The distance from the traps to the first bend. At Nottingham, the run-up is 85 metres. A shorter run-up increases the importance of trap position and early break speed.

S–Z: Terms and Definitions

Sectional time: The time recorded for a specific segment of a race, usually the first section from traps to the first bend. Sectional times reveal running style: a fast sectional indicates early pace, a slower sectional indicates a closing runner.

Slow away (SAw): A racecard comment indicating the dog was slow to leave the trap at the start. At Nottingham, where the run to the first bend is short, a slow start at sprint distances can be decisive.

SP (Starting Price): The official price returned by on-course bookmakers at the moment the traps open. SP is the settlement price for bets placed at “starting price” rather than a fixed odds.

Stayer: A dog that excels at longer distances, typically 680 metres and above. Stayers tend to be heavier, with more stamina and a running style that improves as the race progresses.

Straight forecast: A single forecast bet predicting the exact first-and-second finishing order. Costs one unit.

Top speed: The maximum speed a greyhound can achieve. The breed reaches approximately 72 kilometres per hour — around 45 miles per hour — making the greyhound the fastest dog breed in the world. Typical racing speed over a full race at Nottingham is somewhat lower, in the range of 58 to 61 kilometres per hour, reflecting the deceleration through bends and the late stages of the race.

Trap: The starting box from which a dog begins a race. Nottingham uses six traps, numbered 1 (red) through 6 (striped black and white). Trap position is a significant variable in race prediction, particularly at shorter distances.

Tricast: A bet requiring you to predict the first, second and third finishers in exact order. Tricasts offer the highest potential returns of any standard bet type but are correspondingly difficult to win.

Weight: The dog’s racing weight, recorded in kilograms on the racecard. Weight fluctuations between races can indicate changes in fitness, condition or training regime.

Wide runner (W): A dog that tends to race on the outside of the track. Wide runners cover more ground than rail runners but may have a cleaner run, avoiding traffic and interference at the bends.