Greyhound Glossary
ACCUMULATOR: (Also, Parlay) A multiple bet. A kind of 'let-it-ride' bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the accumulator.
AGTOA: American Greyhound Track Operators Association, a non-profit corporation comprised of the owners and operators of greyhound race tracks.
BANKER (Also, Key): Highly expected to win. The strongest in a multiple selection in a parlay or accumulator. In permutation bets the banker is a selection that must win to guarantee any returns.
BERTILLON CARD: A greyhound’s identification card that lists 56 physical identifying points for every registered racing greyhound.
CANADIAN: Also known as a Super Yankee. A Canadian is a combination bet consisting of 26 bets with 5 selections in different events. The combination bet is made up of 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five 4-folds and one 5-fold.
EAR TATTOOS: A greyhound's right ear tattoo represents the month, year and tattoo order of your dog’s litter. The last number before the letter is his year of birth, the first one or two numbers is his month of birth. The letter represents the order in which the litter was tattooed (It does not mean the order of birth).
ESCAPE TURN: The first turn of the racetrack after the front stretch.
FORECAST (or Straight Forecast): A bet placed on two greyhounds but they must cross the finish line in exact chosen order. (USA, Perfecta or Exacta).
GROC: The Greyhound Race of Champions, the premier annual event in American greyhound racing, sponsored by the AGTOA.
IKC: Interstate Kennel Club. Name applied to the racing season held at Wembley Park during the winter months, October through February.
INTERFERENCE: Intentional physical contact which obstructs or impedes the running of another greyhound. After being called for interference, a greyhound must run in a non-wagering race before he can compete again.
IN THE MONEY: A first-, second- or third-place finish.
JACKPOT: Pick six winners in six races to share in a Jackpot prize. The rules and prizes will vary from race track to race track.
KENNEL: A business that cares for and races greyhounds under contract with one or more race tracks.
LEAD OUT: A handler employed by the track who parades racers in front of the public before a race and places the greyhounds in the starting box and retrieves the dogs when the race is finished.
LOCK-OUT KENNEL: Sometimes referred to as the 'Jinny Pit', this is an area within the 'Paddock' designed to house the racing greyhounds prior to their racing performance. All greyhounds racing that day are placed in the kennel 30 minutes before the first race. Only specific, licensed personnel are allowed in the area to maintain the greyhounds' safety.
LURE: A mechanical device attached to an arm and electrically driven around the racing strip. The lure operator keeps it a uniform distance ahead of the greyhounds. It's the object the greyhounds chase while racing. A lure generally is a stuffed object that resembles either a bone or a rabbit.
LURE OPERATOR: The person responsible for keeping the lure a uniform distance ahead of the greyhounds during a race.
MARATHON COURSE: The longest course distance at Mile High, measuring 2,407 feet, or about 7/16ths of a mile.
MATINEE: A program of racing conducted during the daylight hours.
MIDDLE DISTANCE: Distance classification for the Commerce Course at Mile High. This course measures 2,050 feet or 3/8ths of a mile.
MUZZLE: A wire, leather or plastic devise, with a white tip, which is fitted over the greyhound's mouth and jaws and used as an aid in a close photo finish and to protect other greyhounds while racing.
NGA: National Greyhound Association, made up of greyhound owners, breeders and trainers; recognized as a registry for racing greyhounds in the United States.
QUINELLA DOUBLE: A wagering term describing the two greyhounds finishing first and second in any order in two designated races
RAIL: The inside race strip where the mechanical lure runs around the track.
REVERSE FORECAST: A bet placed on two greyhounds, to cross the finish line in any order. (USA, Quiniela).
RINGER: A greyhound (or horse) entered in a race under another's name, usually a good runner replacing a poorer one.
SCHOOLING RACE: A practice race held using actual racing conditions, but in which no wagering is allowed.
SINGLE: A Straight bet on one selection to win one race or event, also known as a straight-up bet.
SIRE: The father of a greyhound.
STEAM: When a betting selection starts to move quite rapidly, usually caused by many bettors betting on it.
STRAIGHT FORECAST (UK): A tote bet operating in races of 3 or more declared runners in which the punter has to pick the first and second to finish in the correct order. See 'Forecast'.
TATOO: An identification number placed inside the ear of a registered racing greyhound.
TATOO DRAW: When purchasing, all greyhounds are selected in order of purchase or reserve/deposit - according to your preferred sex or random draw by tattoo.
TATTOO DRAWING: To determine ownership in each litter, sellers hold a drawing by the tattoo numbers found in the ears of each greyhound. This is held after the 4th month of age since that allows the sellers time to meet all administrative requirements of the National Greyhound Association before any drawing is held.
TITANIC TRI-SUPER: This operates the same as the 'Tri-Super', except you must correctly select the Trifecta combination in the 5th Race and the Superfecta in the 7th Race.
TRICAST or TREBLE FORECAST: A bet placed on three greyhounds, to cross the finish line in exact chosen order. (USA, Trifecta).
TRIFECTA: A wagering term describing the first three greyhounds to cross the finish line in exact chosen order. (UK, Tricast).
TRI-SUPER: Similar to the 'Twin Trifecta' below. You select the winning Trifecta combination in one race and exchange that ticket for a Superfecta in the following race.
TWIN TRIFECTA: A multiple pool bet. Two trifecta selections in two races. You select the winning Trifecta combination in one race and exchange that ticket for a second Trifecta in the following race. One-half of the net Twin Trifecta pool will be paid equally to winners of the first half when those tickets are presented to be exchanged. The remaining half of the pool, along with any carry over will be to winners of the second half. If no one selects the second half correctly, the pool is carried over to the next racing performance.
WGRF: World Greyhound Racing Federation, the worldwide promotion association for the sport.
WHELPING: The act of birth.
WIRE: The finish line for a race.