In this section, I explain how age affects a dogs racing performance and provide links to Greyhound Welfare and Dog Rehoming sites.
Knowing the age of a runner is very important when predicting dog races as it implies to the general consistency of performances.
Greyhound Predictor v2.0 requires all dog ages to be entered in months!
In the United Kingdom the age of a dog is always taken from the first day of the month, even if born on the last day of the month!
All greyhounds less than 24 months old are classified as puppies and will at approximately 12 months old be gradually introduced to the idea of racing. After initial schooling trials most juvenile dogs that achieve a 'grading in time' will make their race debuts between 15 - 18 months old.
Some trainers may elect to bring certain 'well bred pups' on slowly at first, deliberately keep them back, wrap them in cotton wool perhaps and then introduce them fresh in the spring from a winter's break in order to get them fully fit for the 'Puppy Opens' held later in the summer months.
These raw lightly raced dogs are open to much improvement which is always thought a very good sign when predicting future dog race winners! However, 'greyhound pups' frequently run a little 'green' and race inconsistently as obviously they're still learning to win races.
The age at which a greyhound reaches its prime can vary enormously. It is generally thought that a dog will be at its best between 30 - 36 months. Although, I beleive some peak earlier between 21 - 30 months and consider this the perfect time for backing dogs over sprints and middle-distances. Bitches on the other hand may take a little longer to reach their full potential.
More experienced dogs between 36 - 48 months old will be competing in their second or third racing season. These dogs will be battle hardened to the hustle and bustle of regular racing and remarkably produce very consistent performances, illustrated by the close proximity of their recorded times.
Open class 'Marathon bitches' it is said often improve in their second season of racing over these extended distances!
All veterans over 48 months old will be approaching the twilight of their careers and many will sadly be retired. However, there's always exceptions to the rule, as a few 'seasoned campaigners' will continue winning races, although most lack that bit of spark or back-straight pace they once possessed!
The lifespan of a greyhound is varied. The legendary Mick The Miller lived to the age of thirteen years old. Although, bitches may live a little longer, many up to fourteen or fifteen and I've also read of greyhounds living to twenty!
Greyhound Predictor now has a link page dedicated to greyhound rescue sites if you can in anyway help in the re-homing of retired ex-racing dogs, please visit our greyhound welfare page.
Now check your newspaper.
To know how old a greyhound is? you will need to find the 'whelping date' which is usually located in the formlines to the right of the dam's name. Then simply calculate the approximate number of months that have elapsed since the whelping date occurred!
Now enter the age in months.
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 2024 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| 2021 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| 2020 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 |
| 2019 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 49 |
| 2018 | 72 | 71 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 61 |
| 2017 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 |
| 2016 | 96 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 86 | 85 |
© 2024 Dan Albright
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