A Day in The Life of a Greyhound: Preparing for a Race
An insight into a day in the life of a racing greyhound on a race day.
From the moment the starting trap rises to the final lunge across the finish line, greyhounds give us their all, each one driven by an innate desire to chase and win. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the sport, there's something exhilarating about watching these athletes do what they do best. You may be wondering what really goes on behind the scenes on a race day, settle in as we explain a typical race day, from kennels to track.
Maintenance Before the Race
A day for a greyhound that is racing that evening can be a bit different to a normal day at the kennels. Beginning the day with their usual morning let out into the paddocks, allowing their kennel to be cleaned and disinfected. In a normal routine a greyhound would enjoy a warm breakfast to set them up for the day, but some trainers like to give a racer a light lunch instead, lining their stomachs for the race.
Kennel staff will prepare the greyhound for the race that will take place in the evening. The day previous, the dog would have gone into a Porta Mag Therapy Crate that has magnetic field pulses, to relax their muscles. The day of the race, the dog will have a massage to warm their muscles up, followed by being stretched to make sure they’re okay. Plus, staff will groom, brush the teeth and clip their nails for later.
Once lunchtime arrives, their light lunch is served. This varies from different racing kennels, but a popular choice would be a jug of soaked protein biscuit and a bit of casserole to add flavour. This is usually given 7-8 hours before the race to ensure the dog has fully digested the meal to avoid stomachache.
At the Track
Arriving at the track, trainers like to have the dogs out for 10 – 15 minutes depending on the weather, to stretch their legs and allow the dog time to go to the toilet. Once this has been done, the track vet will examine the dog to confirm it’s healthy enough to race. Furthermore, the racing manager will scan the microchip and check the ear markings to ensure the dog is correct. Soon after, the weight will be recorded to ensure it hasn't changed by more than 1kg since it's last run. The dog is then placed into the air-conditioned kennels, with water and music for a relaxing experience. The kennels have to be ideally between 15 and 24 degrees.
Stretching before a race and walking off after it is a must.
Around 15 minutes prior to the race, the greyhound comes out of the kennels and prepares for the race. The racing jacket and muzzle are put on. Some trainers also put Vaseline on the pads of the greyhounds to prevent any tiny cuts. Depending on the weather, the greyhound will also wear a fleece lined coat over the racing jacket to keep the muscles warm. The vet checks all the greyhounds over for the second time and will give the go ahead for the dogs to run. The track maintenance staff will also walk the running surface to assure the trainers it meets the safety requirements to race. Greyhounds will keep moving until they’re in the traps to ensure blood flow and to keep their muscles warm.
After the race, the pack will enjoy playing with either a fake lure rag or a teddy. The vet will watch them trot off the track and certify all the dogs are walking correctly and sound. The greyhounds then enjoy a warm bubble wash to get any sand off. Rules state that they must be kenneled with fresh water for a minimum of 15 minutes after a race to cool down and recuperate.
Preparing for Rest
Once the greyhound is home, they tuck into their main meal. Typically consisting of a variety of soaked biscuits, casserole, pasta, brown bread and egg whites, alongside all the relevant vitamins and supplements, this will vary from trainer to trainer. After that, kennel staff and trainers enjoy playing with the dogs in the paddocks and most importantly, giving the dogs cuddles and treats; preparing the dogs for bedtime, to enjoy a well-earned rest. The following day, the racer will then have another massage and stretch to make sure everything is okay. Some kennels will also have a physio to keep on top of any niggly injuries that may occur.
Tellington (T) Touch is one of the best ways greyhounds relax after a race.
As the race day draws to a close and the cheers of the crowd begin to fade, one thing is clear, the greyhounds give us their all, enjoying the thrill of the chase. The trainers and kennel staff love to look after the dogs in their care, creating a joyful experience for the athletes. Until next time, keep the excitement alive and we’ll see you at the track!
