Hobart Greyhounds

About Hobart city

Hobart City is the capital of the Australian state Island of Tasmania. Founded in 1803, Hobart City is the second oldest city in Australia, after Sydney. The most recent studies estimate the population to be approximately 210,000 people. It is the administrative capital of Tasmania and serves as a Seaport for the Antarctic excursions by Australia and France. On the recreational and sporting fronts, dog races have become very famous over the past few years and Hobart greyhounds can hold their own with the fastest dogs in the world.

Greyhound racing

Greyhound racing is a sport in which greyhound dogs chase a lure until they reach the finish line. The first to finish is the winner. A lure is a mechanical device that resembles either a bone or rabbit, and moves around the track at a considerable distance from the dog. The legitimacy of greyhound racing was previously in doubt and a very controversial topic but it has evolved over the years to become a sporting activity that is acceptable to most people. In countries like Australia, greyhound racing is a famous form of gambling. The exact date of the first greyhound race is debatable but the first recorded attempt was in 1876, in the United Kingdom.

Greyhound Racing in Hobart

Greyhound racing in Hobart, Tasmania goes back to 1935, when the first ever race took place. The Hobart Greyhound Racing Club organizes races and regulates the welfare of Hobart greyhounds. The main races take place at the Tattersall’s Park, which is located at the Hobart Royal Show Grounds. This location is about 10 kilometers from the Central Business District of Hobart City.

Races usually take place every Thursday night and there are three major distances involved. These distances include 340 meters, 461 meters and 599 meters. The Hobart 1000 is the best-known greyhound race in Hobart City and covers a distance of 461 meters. Other important races in Hobart City include The Charmer Lodge Laurels, St. Leger, Minister’s Gift and Betfair Tasmanian Gold Cup

The Hobart 1000

Founded by Arthur Morgan, The Hobart 1000 remains one of the longest running greyhound racing events in Australia and specifically, Tasmania. It takes place during the month of December and runs over one week. The first day usually involves the heats followed by the final race one week later.

The prize money as at 2008 stood at 75,000 Australian Dollars. The competition is very stiff as 64 dogs compete for a place in the final and a chance to win the ultimate prize. These dogs have to go through eight exciting heats, with the spectators witnessing the breaking of records with almost every heat.

Greyhound racing commenced in 1935 when Arthur Morgan established The Hobart Cup as the classical race of the year. The event took place at the Tasmanian Cricket Association Ground. The first Hobart 1000 race took place in 1939 when it replaced the Hobart Cup. Financial constraints forced the Hobart 1000 to revert to the Hobart Cup, in 1942. It later resumed to the Hobart 1000 in 1946. The huge prize money then, of 1000 pounds, led to an influx of greyhound racers from the Mainland, creating a sort of Carnival mood in Tasmania every time the event took place.

The most notable race took place from 1961 to 1963 when Hilda Williamson won a hat trick of titles with her bitch Ophir Doll. The last ever Hobart 1000 race to take place at the Tasmanian Cricket Association Ground was in 1980. The Hobart 1000 is the oldest feature race in Australia and the most successful trainer of the race is Graeme Bate who has won more than four times.

The interesting thing about greyhound races is that The Hobart Greyhound Racing Club allows any dog to participate in the event as long as they pass the veterinary tests and nominations heats. Most of these races are open to all dogs except the Open Best races, in which maidens are restricted from participation. The heats usually take place one week before the main race. The most recent winners of the Hobart 1000 are Superman, Torque Bale and Go Go Ebo.

Other Hobart Greyhound Races

Apart from the Hobart 1000, other races that deserve mention are The Charmer Lodge Laurels, St. Leger, Minister’s Gift and Betfair Tasmanian Gold Cup. The Charmer Lodge Laurels is restricted to Tasmanian bred bitches. Three heats take place and the best two finishers in each heat and the two fastest losers qualify for the final race. The race takes place over a distance of 461 meters. The St. Ledger also covers a distance of 461 meters and is restricted to Tasmanian bred dogs. The criteria for selecting the qualifying dogs are the same as the Charmer Lodge Laurels.

The Betfair Tasmanian Gold Cup is an open best series where maiden dogs are restricted from participating. It covers a distance of 461 meters and unlike the St. Ledger race, it involves eight heats, with the winner of every heat qualify for the final race.

The Minister’s Gift is another best series race that takes place in October and is restricted to Tasmanian bred greyhounds that are Grade 3, 4 or 5. These grades represent sprint races. The Minister’s Gift takes place at all the Tasmanian racing tracks including Devonport, Hobart and Launceston.

Just like in other racing sports, betting is quite prevalent and exciting. Before placing a bet on any greyhound, you may check on the dog’s medical history, past performances and the appearance of the dog. A dog with a consistent performance can be a good bet. These statistics may help you to make a sound judgement when it comes to betting. Success in betting relies on sheer luck and correctly predicting the outcome of a race is a very hard but self-fulfilling task, especially if you win. This makes betting more exciting due to the tension involved with it. The proximity of Tasmania to the Australian Mainland makes travelling easy. Visitors may make the short trip to the island and experience the races first hand. Moreover, you can also bet online on any of the Hobart greyhounds whose statistics appeal to you.