Life on the Track

Jacksonville Greyhound Racing logoAAGA currently gets almost all of its Greyhounds from the Jacksonville – Orange Park racing circuit in northeastern Florida through the adoption program supported by the track and the kennels that race there.

Greyhounds begin professionally racing at approximately 2 years of age.  Their racing career ends when they are no longer competitive. This could be due to injury, poor racing behaviors, or the fact that they are just not fast enough.  Most of the Greys that come to us are 2 to 4 years old.

To better understand the complicated transition that an ex-racer must make from being a working athlete to a home companion, it is helpful to know something about his former life.

NGA vs AKC GreyhoundThe Greyhound’s life begins on a breeding farm, where a great deal of planning has first gone into the pedigree of a litter. Racing Greyhounds in the U.S. are not AKC dogs; they are registered by the National Greyhound Association (NGA).  Show Greyhounds are registered by the AKC, but they are relatively rare.

Greyhound puppiesPuppies are kept with their mother until they are weaned at about 8 to 9 weeks of age. At that time, usually with the GH puppies 3litter remaining intact, they are moved to pens with outdoor runs where they are allowed to exercise as much as they want. They are given toys to encourage the chasing instinct. They are fed a mixture of dry meal and meat three times a day. Sometime over the next month or so their ears will be tattooed with their permanent identifying numbers.

GHs in racing kennel pensAt 10 months of age the pups are sent to a rearing facility where they are introduced to a collar and leash and begin serious schooling to prepare them for racing.  Here they also learn to adapt to the more formal living environment of kennel life where wire crates (perhaps 40 to 60) are stacked two high per room, generally with females on the upper row. And life now becomes one of strict routine.  GHs in turnout penThey are “turned out” four times a day, during which time they can relieve themselves and play with other kennel mates while trainers and helpers interact with them and tidy up the kennel. (Greyhounds rarely mess in their personal living space.)  While outside in the turnout pens, the dogs are muzzled to prevent any confrontations with their fellow hounds.

Greys being led to the gateTwice a week the Greyhounds are taken to a training track where they are exercised, introduced to the artificial lure and the starting box, and trained to run on a circular track. At approximately 18 months of age they are permanently moved to a racetrack to begin preparing for professional races.

114Ace6Greyhounds have been clocked at speeds of up to 45 mph, second only to the Cheetah as the world’s fastest animal.  Generally, the dogs race once or twice a week, with most races lasting 30 seconds. Races are mixed, with males and females running together. Females are kept on testosterone to keep them from coming into heat. Races are divided into grades, with  the dogs moving up and down through these GH haulerlevels throughout their career based on their performance.  The difference between the speed of a Grade A Greyhound and a Grade D one can be as little as 1/4th of a second.  The dogs may also be moved from one track to another depending on racing seasons and performance.

While some owners have little or no contact with the dogs, viewing them merely as investments, most owners either run their particular Greyhounds in their own racing kennel or lease them to other racing kennels.  These owners are in constant contact with the kennel operators and trainers racing their Greyhounds to ensure that their hounds GH with trainer 2receive proper care and training.  While racing, the dogs have their closest relationships with their trainers (a large portion of whom are women), and it is generally the trainer who determines (and advises the owner) when a Greyhound’s career is over, whether it be due to a lack of interest in racing, an injury, or just poor performance. And that can happen as early as age 2.

GH mom with pupsIf a Greyhound has had an extremely successful career on the track, he/she may be used for breeding.  If the Greyhound isn’t used for breeding and doesn’t compete at another racetrack, Greyhound racetracks are required, by contract, to place the dog in a certified adoption program or return it to the original owner.

New Greys'Land signThe early 1980’s saw the rise of the Greyhound adoption movement to find homes for retired racers as pets. Currently, there are over 200 such dedicated organizations located throughout the country.  Also, in recent years the racing industry has made significant progress in establishing programs for the adoption of retired racers. In addition to actively cooperating with private adoption groups, many racetracks have established their own adoption programs. The adoption program from where AAGA gets its Greyhounds is supported by the racetrack and the kennels that race there, as well as private donations.

GH racetrackGreyhound racing reached its highest popularity after the Second World War (1946).  However, it has been in a steady decline since the early 1960’s, as the expansion of casino gambling has greatly decreased its profitabilty. In 2000 there were 50 tracks in 15 states.  Today (2015) there are 21 tracks in 7 states — Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Texas and West Virginia. Florida, with its 12 tracks, remains the seat of the industry and the major source of adoptable ex-racers.

Carl at the AAGA Fire_3-5-14Each year there are fewer Greyhounds being bred and whelped.  However, as long as Greyhound tracks continue to operate, there will be Greyhounds available for adoption as pets.  Adopt A Greyhound Atlanta will do its best to keep placing these beautiful graceful animals into loving homes.

For a Greyt series of images depicting “A Day in the Life of a Racing Greyhound” by photographer, Rachel Hogue, check out this site: