GreyhoundRacingResults.com.auGreyhound Racing Glossary: Every Term Explained
Betting Education · 8 min read · Updated 2026-09-12
Form guide abbreviations
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Box / B | The starting barrier (1–8 in Australia) |
| FFA | Free For All — open class below Group level |
| Mdn | Maiden — for winless dogs |
| Margins | Beaten distance: nk = neck, hd = head, sh = short head, lengths = the number |
| Q/1, Q/2 | Quarter odds or half odds place dividend indicator in some guides |
| SP | Starting price — final on-course odds |
| Sectional | Time for a race segment, usually to the first bend |
| T | Trial — non-betting run |
| W/P | Win and place |
Race description terms
Bumped: contacted by another runner, usually at the first bend. Checked: forced to change stride or direction. Crowded: squeezed for room between rivals. Faded: weakened in the run home. Flew late: finished strongly. Led throughout: led from box to post. Slow away: began poorly. Wide: raced wide on the track, covering extra ground. Held up: blocked from a clear run until too late.
Betting terms
Quinella: first two in any order. Exacta: first two in correct order. Trifecta: first three in order. First Four: first four in order. Quaddie: winners of four nominated races. Daily Double: winners of two nominated races. All-Up: parlaying winnings onto successive selections. Boxed: taking every combination of your selections in an exotic. Standout: fixing one selection to a position to reduce cost. Banker: a selection you expect to win, used as the anchor of multi-leg bets.
Animal and industry terms
Chaser: a racing greyhound. Grade: ability class (Maiden through Grade 5 to FFA). Grader: official who assesses performances and assigns grades. Kennel: the trainer's establishment; also used for the trainer themselves. Lure: the mechanical hare the dogs chase. Rug: the racing jacket identifying box number. Scratching: a late withdrawal. Spell: a break from racing. Whelped: date of birth of the greyhound. Sire/Dam: father/mother of a greyhound, vital breeding information on the form guide.
Reading a race comment
When a form guide says '5th, beaten 3.5L, slow away, crowded 1st turn, flew late', translate it as: the dog lost the race at the start, had traffic trouble, and was finishing best of all. Given a cleaner beginning and better draw, that is forward form. Learning to translate comments into future performance is the core skill every professional punter develops first.