Greyhound Racing Rules

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Please be aware Best Odds Guaranteed is not offered on Greyhound Racing.

General Rules:

Race Betting:

You're betting on: Which greyhound will win the race.

Bets are settled on the official result called by the judge and any subsequent amendments or disqualifications will be ignored for settlement purposes.
Bets are accepted Win or Each-Way at SP or Show Prices only. All bets on unnamed favourite and second favourites are win only and therefore each way betting is unavailable for them.
Should a greyhound be withdraw from a race (or declared a non runner) all bets placed on the selection will be settled as void. Bets on the remaining runners in the race placed before the withdrawal or replacement will be settled at those greyhounds' starting prices. All bets placed following a withdrawal will be settled at the price taken at the time of the bet.
Place only bets are not accepted and if taken in error will be made void.
On the rare occasion the Press Association are unable to return SP's at certain venue's due to the weakness of on course markets and bookmaker representation, all bets will be void.
All bets on Greyhound races taken 4 secs after the official off time will be deemed late and therefore void.
Greyhound names are displayed on Sky Bet's website for information purposes only and all bets will be settled on the basis of the trap numbers on which bets are placed.

Re-Runs

Where a race is declared a NO RACE and is re-run all bets will stand on the greyhounds that take part in the re-run. However, single bets may be cancelled by mutual agreement. Show Prices laid on the void race will not be valid; the SP return on the re-run race will govern settlement. A re-run race stands in the order in which it was originally placed in the programme, irrespective of the time at which it was re-run. Where a race is declared void and not re-run ALL bets for that race are void, any reserve race or substitute race will not count.

Rule 4 Rules:

Australian Greyhounds

If your Greyhounds bet hasn't returned as much as you thought it would, the first action to take is to check if the race was affected by a 'Rule 4' (or R4). The quickest way to do so is by using our Account History or Settled bets options within the My Account area.
To explain the spirit of the rule in it's simplest terms, please consider the following hypothetical example:
You have elected to bet on Greyhound A @ 5/1 in the 08.30 at The Meadows. There are only 6 runners in this particular race and later on in the day, Greyhound B @ 7/4 unfortunately has to withdraw from the race.
The race now becomes a 5 runner race and immediately your Greyhound's chance of winning have increased from 1 in 6 runners to 1 in 5 runners. Once the non-runner is official we will revise the race at the earliest opportunity with new odds for the 5 remaining runners. Therefore with this in mind, the 5/1 taken earlier in the day is now no longer a fair reflection of Greyhound A's chances and some form of reduction is needed to compensate.
Therefore the concept of Rule 4 involves deducting a set value in pence out of every pound (£GBP) of winnings in winning bets. The size of this deduction is determined by the price (Early or Board/Show) of the non-runner at the time of withdrawal. In our example, as Greyhound B was 7/4 at the time of withdrawal, a deduction of 35p in every £1 of winnings would be deducted from winning bets:

Further Rules regarding Rule 4

The application of Rule 4(c) will be determined by the price of the withdrawn horse at the time of withdrawal.
For races where more than one Greyhound is withdrawn, the deduction won't be bigger than 90p per £1.
Where the total deduction on the market in which you have placed your bet is 5p in the £, as a concession, the deduction will be waived.
In the case of withdrawals in reformed markets, the total deduction over the two or more Greyhounds (i.e. one in the original and one in the reformed market) will be calculated on the prices applicable in the original market.
For bets placed in reformed markets, deductions applied to withdrawn horses in these markets will be calculated on the prices applicable in these markets.

Greyhound Request A Bet

For settlement purposes, bets will be settled at the place terms that Sky Bet use for their win market for that race unless stated otherwise (derived markets such as place/insure betting will not dictate the place terms for Request A Bets).
In the event of any non-runners in all daily and 'Non-runner No Bet' Greyhound Racing RequestABets, the bet will be settled at the SP of the remaining selections.

Non Runner No Bet

If a greyhound is withdrawn from the race, all bets placed at Early/Show prices prior to a new book being formed will be settled at SP.

Greyhound Derby Specials

Markets included in the specials are: Top Irish Greyhound, Top Bitch, Top British Bred.
Should greyhounds be eliminated at the same round of the competition, placings achieved in that round will be used for settlement. Should Greyhounds be eliminated in the same round, and achieve the same finishing position, then the selections will be settled as a Dead Heat.
Example - Dog A gets knocked out by finishing 4th in the quarter final, dog B gets knocked out by finishing 5th, Dog A would be settled as the winner.

Greyhound Sectional Time

A Sectional Time is the time a Greyhound records when passing the winning line for the first time during the race. This market will be settled on the time official results for each race, it will not be influenced by any going allowance given.
Should no sectional times be given, the affected market/selection will be settled as void.

Fastest Heat

You're betting on: Which Heat will be won in the fastest winning time.

The actual time of the winner, and not the calculated time.
The actual time a Greyhound records is the official time given by the Race Track before Going allowances are taken into consideration and published.
Dead-Heat rules apply.

Fastest Time

You're betting on: Which of the names Greyhounds will record the fastest actual time?

Bets will be settled on the actual time recorded by the Greyhound, and not the calculated time.
The actual time a Greyhound records is the official time given by the Race Track before Going allowances are taken into consideration and published.
Dead-Heat rules apply.

Greyhound Multiple Bets (Inc. Price Boost Doubles)

You're betting on: Whether the named greyhounds will win/place in their respective races.

Dead-Heat rules may apply.
If any of the selections named within the bet are non-runners, bets will be settled as an enhanced SP multiple on the remaining runners.

Extra Markets:

2 Places

You're betting on: A greyhound to finish in the first two places.

Dead-Heat rules apply.

3 Places

You're betting on: A greyhound to finish in the first 3 places.

Dead-Heat rules apply.

Bets on Favourites

Bets are accepted for un-named favourite only.
Where a track holds two meetings on the same day, unless clearly stated which meeting is intended, the bet will stand for the first meeting to be run after bet acceptance.

Betting Without

You're betting on: A greyhound to win with the finishing position of the "without" runner ignored.

Dead-Heat rules apply.

Distance Betting

You're betting on: The total winning distances at a specified meeting being above, below or between quoted brackets, e.g. 9 to 10 Lengths etc.

The winning distance in a race will be the officially declared distance between the first two greyhounds past the post that have completed the race.
Race Winning Distance classifications: A 'Nose' = 0.05, A 'Short Head' = 0.1, A 'Head' = 0.2 and A 'Neck' = 0.3
The Maximum Make Up is 12 Lengths.
If a meeting has 1 or more races abandoned or declared void, then all bets will be void unless a winning market has already been established, in which case bets will stand.
We may also quote multiples over a specified number of meetings on a given day - above or below a quoted line. If any of the specified meetings are abandoned bets will be void unless a winning market has already been established, in which case bets will stand.

Double Chance

You're betting on: Either of two named greyhounds winning a specified race.

If either selection is a non-runner the market will be settled as an SP single on the remaining runner.

Inside Vs Outside

You're betting on: Whether the trap number of the winner is either an Inside Trap (1,2,3) or an Outside Trap (4,5,6)

Inside v Outside - In races where there are less than six runners, all Inside / Outside trap bets will be void.
Inside v Outside - In the event of a Dead-Heat all Inside / Outside trap bets will be void. Bets are only void if an inside trap Dead-Heats with an outside trap. Should two inside traps Dead-Heat ie. Trap 1 and Trap 2, then inside traps should be paid as a winner.
Dead-Heat rules apply.

Inside Vs Middle Vs Outside

You're betting on: Whether the trap number of the winner is either an Inside Trap (1,2), Middle Trap (3,4) or an Outside Trap (5,6).

Inside v Outside - In races where there are less than six runners, all Inside / Outside trap bets will be void.
Inside v Outside - In the event of a Dead-Heat all Inside / Outside trap bets will be void. Bets are only void if an inside trap Dead-Heats with an outside trap. Should two inside traps Dead-Heat i.e. Trap 1 and Trap 2, then inside traps should be paid as a winner.
Dead-Heat rules apply.

Insure Bet - 2 Places

You're betting on: The greyhound to win the race. If the greyhound finishes second, the stake will be returned.

Dead-Heat rules apply.

Insure Bet - 3 Places

You're betting on: The greyhound to win the race. If the greyhound finishes second or third, the stake will be returned.

Dead-Heat rules apply.

Forecasts & Tricasts

You're betting on: Which traps will finish in 1st, 2nd and/or 3rd (order dependent on bet type placed, SFC, RFC, CFC, CTC etc.)

Tricasts are accepted in races where an official computer tricast dividend is declared. Any that are taken on a race where no dividend is declared will stand as a computer straight forecast on the selections chosen to finish first and second with the third being discounted.
Forecast Bets involving a Non-Runner will be made void. Tricast Bets involving a Non-Runner will stand as a computer straight forecast on the remaining two selections in the order stated. Bets involving two Non-Runners will be made void.
Selections should always be named. Unnamed Favourites are not accepted and where taken in error will be made void.
Bets are settled in accordance with the computer SP straight forecast/tricast returns. If for any reason an SP return is not given, bets will be made void.

Lengthen The Odds

You're betting on: The official winning distance of a named selection.

The selection needs to win by the distance stated. Bets will be settled on the official distance published by the Press Association.
If the result is a Dead-Heat, then the winning distance is classed as 0.
If any another selection in the race is a Non-Runner, bets on the market will be made void.

Lengthen The Odds' Trebles

You're betting on: The official winning distance of each of 3 named selections.

All bets are singles only.
If any of the 3 named greyhounds do not run - the bet will be settled as an enhanced lengthen the odds double or single on the remaining selection(s).
Each named greyhound must win by their stated distance band.
If the result is a Dead-Heat, then the winning distance is classed as 0.
A max bet may apply.

Match Bets

You're betting on: The Greyhound that attains the highest finishing position.

Bets are settled on the official result.
Dead-heat rules apply.
All Greyhounds must take place in the race or bets are void.
If both/all Greyhounds fail to finish all bets will be void and stakes returned. A selection that fails to complete the race is deemed to have finished last for settling purposes.
If a result cannot be confirmed, settlement will be determined on the following days' Racing Post result.

Named Dog(s) vs The Field

You're betting on: A greyhound or several greyhounds to finish ahead of the rest of the field.

Dead-Heat rules apply.

Odds Vs Evens

You're betting on: Whether the trap number of the winner is either an odd number or even number.

Dead-Heat rules apply.

Time to Shine Rules

Should there be any Non-Runners after your bet is placed, all bets on this market will be void. The market will be settled on the Greyhound to win and complete the race faster than the named time on the bet.
The actual winning time, and not the calculated time will be used for settlement.

Trap Challenge

You're betting on: Which trap number will secure the most wins over a named greyhound meeting (or specific number of races advertised)

If all races are not completed, or there are any Vacant Traps, then all bets will stand. In the event of two or more Greyhounds recording the same amount of wins, then Dead-Heat rules will apply for settlement purposes.
If there is a Dead-Heat relating to a trap challenge bet then both of the Dead-Heat traps will be allocated a point.
In the event of one meeting or multiple races being abandoned after the meeting has started, that are part of a Combined Trap Challenge, all bets will be settled on the result of the remaining races that have taken place at both meetings.
In the event of one meeting not starting all bets containing this meeting are void.
Dead-Heat Rules may apply

Unnamed Favourite

You're betting on: The greyhound that is returned the SP favourite to win the race.

For settling purposes, Dead-Heat rules apply when an unnamed favourite returns joint or co favourites.

Winning Favourites

You're betting on: A specified number of favourites winning at a specified meeting.

For settlement purposes any bets which include "unnamed favourite(s)" or "total winning favourites," the total count will include all favourites, co favourites or joint favourites.
If any favourite is withdrawn and no market is reformed, the favourite will be the 2nd favourite with the lowest racecard number.
If there are 1 or more void races, bets will be made void unless the specified number of favourites have already won.
If a meeting is abandoned bets will be void, unless the specified number of favourites have already won.