Greyhound Racing not all about betting
Unfortunately, betting has become the most important part of Greyhound Racing, and no one takes it as a sport. Just like other sports, it has thrill, excitement and competition, but the followers hardly notice these.
The skilful hounds compete in different classes, and the victors stepped up on the grading ladder. It means the element of motivation for the trainers and owners remains there.
Yet, only a few follow the sport because of its thrilling nature. Majority of the spectators goes to the racecourse just to place bets. It is surely an unfortunate aspect of the game.
According to Wikipedia description: “In many countries, greyhound racing is purely amateur and for enjoyment. In other countries (particularly Australia, Ireland, Macau, Mexico, Spain, the UK and the US), greyhound racing is part of the gambling industry,
similar to although far less profitable than horse racing.”
“There is some popular concern in countries with greyhound gambling regarding the well-being of the dogs; the effectiveness of industry efforts to address these concerns is a topic of some debate. A greyhound adoption movement has arisen to assist retired
racing dogs in finding homes as pets.”
Greyhound racing has a long history. The very first recorded attempt to run the hounds on a straight track was made late in the 19th century. With the passage of time, the new rules and regulations were made, and now it has become a serious business.
In Great Britain, millions go to the stadium to enjoy racing every year. There are more than two dozen stadiums only in UK.
The handlers spend plenty of money on training of the hounds. Despite the fact that every trainer/owner gets a handsome amount of money on winning a big event, the betting remains the biggest source of interest.
On every single day, thousands of punters stake their money in different races. The bookies award different odds to the hounds to make things easier for those interested in placing bets.
An overall view of the sport is enough to show that the betting is the biggest element. Gambling has been legalised in many countries, and the bettors surely have the right to make money. However, taking racing as just a matter of betting is injustice to
the hounds.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not reflect Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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