This section contains detailed information on grading and all associated rules, distance tables etc. The information is contained in sections:
Grading Tables
Below are the bands for the Standard 525 yard distance. The comprehensive grading tables for all the sprint and middle distance grades are set out in Appendix 1. The Novice Table and Long Distance Table are set out in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3.
Standard Bands - 525
| Band |
Time |
| Open |
<28.90 |
| A1 |
28.90 - 29.09 |
| A2 |
29.10 - 29.29 |
| A3 |
29.30 - 29.49 |
| A4 |
29.50 - 29.69 |
| A5 |
29.70 - 29.89 |
| A6 |
29.90 - 30.09 |
| A7 |
30.10 - 30.29 |
| A8 |
30.30 - 30.49 |
| A9 |
30.50 - 30.69 |
| A10 |
30.70 - 31.00 |
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Track Ratings
Tracks are rated fast and slow as follows:
| Fast |
525 |
Sprint |
Long Distance |
| Longford |
.30 |
.15 |
.60 |
| Cork |
.30 |
.15 |
.60 |
| Waterford |
.30 |
.15 |
.60 |
| Slow |
Middle |
Sprint |
Long Distance |
| Mullingar |
.50 |
.15 |
.80 |
(A new standard procedure for rating tracks on a nightly basis will be introduced in 2007)
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Qualifying Rules
Novice Greyhound
- A novice greyhound must qualify over the distance he nominates to race over i.e. sprint or 525.A novice greyhound will be eligible to race on completion of one qualifying trial over the distance he proposes to race.
- A novice dog that is out of time and has previously qualified over 525 is allowed to re-qualify over the sprint or 525 distances.
- A greyhound only qualified over the sprint distance can only race in a sprint. He must qualify over 525 to race over 525.
- A novice (unraced) greyhound can enter an OPEN race or event without having
completed a trial at the host track.
Raced Greyhound
- A raced greyhound running an ‘out of time’ trial must achieve qualifying time over the trial distance. He can re-trial over any distance and can finish in any position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th) before he is accepted for racing.
- A greyhound that has raced over the middle distance and wishes to qualify over the sprint distance may do so by running a trial over the sprint distance within the qualifying time (a solo trial will suffice).The same rule will apply to a greyhound that has raced over the sprint distance only and wishes to qualify over the middle distance.
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Promotions in Grade
Novice Greyhound
- A novice greyhound will be placed one grade lower than his time suggests on
conclusion of his first race (trial times included) e.g. a greyhound achieving A5 time will be lowered to A6
- A novice greyhound on completion of his first race that runs a trial(s) prior to his second race, will be lowered a grade from highest grade achieved (trial times are taken into account)
- A novice dog competing in a race with raced greyhounds, or a sweep open to raced greyhounds, is elligible to enter in a race/sweep one grade lower than his qualifying time suggests (unless the conditions of the stake exclude novices).
Raced Greyhound
- A raced greyhound (second & subsequent races) will advance to the grade equal to the time achieved (winning or estimated)
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Sprint Correlation
- There is a direct correlation between grades ‘S’ and ‘A’ up to and including grade ’S3’ and ‘A3’.
- A greyhound achieving a sprint time in excess of S3 will only advance to grade A3 over the standard classification.
- A novice greyhound that runs its first race over the sprint distance will be allotted an ‘S’ grade and an ‘A’ grade (if qualified over the 525 distance).
- A novice achieving open sprint time in its first race will be lowered to grade ‘S1’ over the sprint category and to grade ‘A3’ over the standard classification.
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Hurdle Classification
- A greyhound running a hurdle trial will be assigned a hurdle grade based on the hurdle table.
- A hurdle greyhound will not receive a drop in grade on completion of his first race.
- A hurdle greyhound will be back graded if he is out of the first two in three
consecutive hurdle races. Racing over another category of distance will not break the back grading sequence.
- A greyhound running an ‘out of time trial’ over the hurdle category must run his next race over hurdles. A hurdle trial will not bring a greyhound back in time to race over the flat. A flat trial will qualify a greyhound to race over the hurdles if previously qualified over the hurdles.
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Back Grading
- A greyhound will be back graded when it finishes out of the first two on three
consecutive occasions over the same category of distance i.e. 3 sprints, 3 middle distance races, 3 long distance races or three hurdle races.
- A greyhound running a trial within this sequence of races is still eligible for back grading.
- A novice greyhound’s first race is not counted as part of the back grading series of races (he must run three races excluding his first race).
- A greyhound will be back graded on completion of the three race cycle. He will be lowered one grade from the grade achieved on completion of the three races.
- A greyhound competing in the sprint and the middle distance categories will not break the three race cycle for back grading purposes i.e. a greyhound has completed two races and has finished out of the first two over 525.The greyhound then races over the sprint category.The middle distance or ‘A’ sequence accumulated recommences with the greyhound’s next middle distance race.The same rule applies to the Sprint (‘S’) category.
- An OPEN grade greyhound will only be back graded under the following
conditions:
(1)It must be out of the first two on three consecutive occasions over the same
category of distance
(2)It must have achieved non-open time in all three consecutive races
(3)Racing over another category of distance will not break the three race cycle
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Grading Over Distances Greater Than 620 Yards
- A greyhound must compete in a novice long distance race/event based on his ‘A’ grade before he is assigned a long distance grade.
- On completion of his first long distance race, he is then assigned a grade based on the time achieved.
- A greyhound can enter an OPEN long distance event without competing in a
novice race/event.
- The grade achieved in the long distance category will not impact on the grade
achieved over other classifications.
- Racing over the long distance category will not nullify a back grading sequence of races over a different grading classification.
- A greyhound will not be dropped a grade on completion of his first long distance race.
- A greyhound running a long distance trial before he has raced over the long
distance category will not be assigned a grade.
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Withdrawal
A greyhound withdrawn from a race without an ACCEPTABLE explanation to the relevant Racing Officer will incur the following sanctions:
- It will be withdrawn from racing for 30 days.
- It will be required to run a fitness to race trial over the standard distance unless it was entered for a lesser distance in which case the trial can be over the lesser distance.
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Sweepstakes
- CONFINED EVENTS – A sweep that is confined by grade will take into
account a greyhound’s complete grade history. He must not have achieved a higher grade at any time during his career
- CURRENT GRADE EVENT – This event accepts greyhounds with a current
grade equivalent to the advertised sweep grade. It is also called a ‘back graders sweep’. A greyhound’s past performances are not taken into account to determine eligibility
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Seeding
- All raced greyhounds are eligible for seeding.
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English/International Form
- The setting of the appropriate grade of a greyhound with overseas form will be established by the Regulation Department in consultation with the Racing Management at the relevant race track.
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Sprint Distances
|
525 |
300 |
325 |
330 |
350 |
360 |
375 |
400 |
410 |
| OPEN |
<28.90 |
<16.40 |
<17.70 |
<17.96 |
<19.00 |
<19.52 |
<20.30 |
<21.60 |
<22.12 |
| A1 |
28.90-29.09 |
16.40-16.49 |
17.70-17.79 |
17.96-18.05 |
19.00-19.09 |
19.52-19.61 |
20.30-20.39 |
21.60-21.69 |
22.12-22.21 |
| A2 |
29.10-29.29 |
16.50-16.59 |
17.80-17.89 |
18.06-18.15 |
19.10-19.19 |
19.62-19.71 |
20.40-20.49 |
21.70-21.79 |
22.22-22.31 |
| A3 |
29.30-29.49 |
16.60-16.69 |
17.90-17.99 |
18.16-18.25 |
19.20-19.29 |
19.72-19.81 |
20.50-20.59 |
21.80-21.89 |
22.32-22.41 |
| A4 |
29.50-29.69 |
16.70-16.79 |
18.00-18.09 |
18.26-18.35 |
19.30-19.39 |
19.82-19.91 |
20.60-20.69 |
21.90-21.99 |
22.42-22.51 |
| A5 |
29.70-29.89 |
16.80-16.89 |
18.10-18.19 |
18.36-18.45 |
19.40-19.49 |
19.92-20.01 |
20.70-20.79 |
22.00-22.09 |
22.52-22.61 |
| A6 |
29.90-30.09 |
16.90-16.99 |
18.20-18.29 |
18.46-18.55 |
19.50-19.59 |
20.02-20.11 |
20.80-20.89 |
22.10-22.19 |
22.62-22.71 |
| A7 |
30.10-30.29 |
17.00-17.09 |
18.30-18.39 |
18.56-18.65 |
19.60-19.69 |
20.12-20.21 |
20.90-20.99 |
22.20-22.29 |
22.72-22.81 |
| A8 |
30.30-30.49 |
17.10-17.29 |
18.40-18.59 |
18.66-18.85 |
19.70-19.89 |
20.22-20.41 |
21.00-21.19 |
22.30-22.49 |
22.82-23.01 |
| A9 |
30.50-30.69 |
17.30-17.49 |
18.60-18.79 |
18.86-19.05 |
19.90-20.09 |
20.42-20.61 |
21.20-21.39 |
22.50-22.69 |
23.02-23.21 |
| A10 |
30.70-31.00 |
17.50-17.70 |
18.80-19.00 |
19.06-19.26 |
20.10-20.30 |
20.62-20.82 |
21.40-21.60 |
22.70-22.90 |
23.22-23.42 |
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Middle Distances
|
525 |
500 |
550 |
570 |
575 |
600 |
620 |
| OPEN |
<28.90 |
<27.55 |
<30.25 |
<31.33 |
<31.60 |
<32.95 |
<34.03 |
| A1 |
28.90-29.09 |
27.55-27.74 |
30.25-30.44 |
31.33-31.52 |
31.60-31.79 |
32.95-33.14 |
34.03-34.22 |
| A2 |
29.10-29.29 |
27.75-27.94 |
30.45-30.64 |
31.53-31.72 |
31.80-31.99 |
33.15-33.34 |
34.23-34.42 |
| A3 |
29.30-29.49 |
27.95-28.14 |
30.65-30.84 |
31.73-31.92 |
32.00-32.19 |
33.35-33.54 |
34.43-34.62 |
| A4 |
29.50-29.69 |
28.15-28.34 |
30.85-31.04 |
31.93-32.12 |
32.20-32.39 |
33.55-33.74 |
34.63-34.82 |
| A5 |
29.70-29.89 |
28.35-28.54 |
31.05-31.24 |
32.13-32.32 |
32.40-32.59 |
33.75-33.94 |
34.83-35.02 |
| A6 |
29.90-30.09 |
28.55-28.74 |
31.25-31.44 |
32.33-32.52 |
32.60-32.79 |
33.95-34.14 |
35.03-35.22 |
| A7 |
30.10-30.29 |
28.75-28.94 |
31.45-31.64 |
32.53-32.72 |
32.80-32.99 |
34.15-34.34 |
35.23-35.42 |
| A8 |
30.30-30.49 |
28.95-29.14 |
31.65-31.84 |
32.73-32.92 |
33.00-33.19 |
34.35-34.54 |
35.43-35.62 |
| A9 |
30.50-30.69 |
29.15-29.34 |
31.85-32.04 |
32.93-33.12 |
33.20-33.39 |
34.55-34.74 |
35.63-35.82 |
| A10 |
30.70-31.00 |
29.35-29.65 |
32.05-32.35 |
33.13-33.43 |
33.40-33.70 |
34.75-35.05 |
35.83-36.13 |
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Novice Table
|
525 |
300 |
325 |
330 |
350 |
360 |
375 |
400 |
| OPEN |
<29.80 |
<16.80 |
<18.10 |
<18.36 |
<19.40 |
<19.92 |
<20.70 |
<22.00 |
| N1 |
29.80-30.09 |
16.80-16.99 |
18.10-18.29 |
18.36-18.55 |
19.40-19.59 |
19.92-20.11 |
20.70-20.89 |
22.00-22.19 |
| N2 |
30.10-30.49 |
17.00-17.29 |
18.30-18.59 |
18.56-18.85 |
19.60-19.89 |
20.12-20.41 |
20.90-21.19 |
22.20-22.49 |
| N3 |
30.50-31.00 |
17.30-17.70 |
18.60-19.00 |
18.86-19.26 |
19.90-20.30 |
20.42-20.82 |
21.20-21.60 |
22.50-22.90 |
|
670 |
700 |
730 |
745 |
750 |
790 |
805 |
810 |
| DO |
<37.60 |
<39.40 |
<41.20 |
<42.10 |
<42.40 |
<44.80 |
<45.70 |
<46.00 |
| D1 |
37.60-37.89 |
39.40-39.69 |
41.20-41.49 |
42.10-42.39 |
42.40-42.69 |
44.80-45.09 |
45.70-45.99 |
46.00-46.29 |
| D2 |
37.90-38.19 |
39.70-39.99 |
41.50-41.79 |
42.40-42.69 |
42.70-42.99 |
45.10-45.39 |
46.00-46.29 |
46.30-46.59 |
| D3 |
38.20-38.49 |
40.00-40.29 |
41.80-42.09 |
42.70-42.99 |
43.00-43.29 |
45.40-45.69 |
46.30-46.59 |
46.60-46.89 |
| D4 |
38.50-38.79 |
40.30-40-59 |
42.10-42.39 |
43.00-43.29 |
43.30-43.59 |
45.70-45.99 |
46.60-46.89 |
46.90-47.19 |
| D5 |
38.80-39.09 |
40.60-40.89 |
42.40-42.69 |
43.30-43.59 |
43.60-43.89 |
46.00-46.29 |
46.90-47.19 |
47.20-47.49 |
| D6 |
39.10-39.39 |
40.90-41.19 |
42.70-42.99 |
43.60-43.89 |
43.90-44.19 |
46.30-46.59 |
47.20-47.49 |
47.50-47.79 |
| D7 |
39.40-39.70 |
41.20-41.50 |
43.00-43.30 |
43.90-44.20 |
44.20-44.50 |
46.60-46.90 |
47.50-47.80 |
47.80-48.10 |
|
820 |
830 |
840 |
845 |
850 |
900 |
950 |
970 |
| DO |
<46.60 |
<47.20 |
<47.80 |
<48.10 |
<48.40 |
<51.40 |
<54.40 |
<55.60 |
| D1 |
46.60-46.89 |
47.20-47.49 |
47.80-48.09 |
48.10-48.39 |
48.40-48.69 |
51.40-51.69 |
54.40-54.69 |
55.60-55.89 |
| D2 |
46.90-47.19 |
47.50-47.79 |
48.10-48.39 |
48.40-48.69 |
48.70-48.99 |
51.70-51.99 |
54.70-54.99 |
55.90-56.19 |
| D3 |
47.20-47.49 |
47.80-48.09 |
48.40-48.69 |
48.70-48.99 |
49.00-49.29 |
52.00-52.29 |
55.00-55.29 |
56.20-56.49 |
| D4 |
47.50-47.79 |
48.10-48.39 |
48.70-48.99 |
49.00-49.29 |
49.30-49.59 |
52.30-52.59 |
55.30-55.59 |
56.50-56.79 |
| D5 |
47.80-48.09 |
48.40-48.69 |
49.00-49.29 |
49.30-49.59 |
49.60-49.89 |
52.60-52.89 |
55.60-55.89 |
56.80-57.09 |
| D6 |
48.10-48.39 |
48.70-48.99 |
49.30-49.59 |
49.60-49.89 |
49.90-50.09 |
52.90-52.19 |
55.90-56.19 |
57.10-57.39 |
| D7 |
48.40-48.70 |
49.00-49.30 |
49.60-49.90 |
49.90-50.20 |
50.10-50.40 |
52.20-52.50 |
56.20-56.50 |
57.40-57.70 |
|
1010 |
1015 |
1025 |
| DO |
<58.00 |
<58.30 |
<58.90 |
| D1 |
58.00-58.29 |
58.30-58.59 |
58.90-59.19 |
| D2 |
58.30-58.59 |
58.60-58.89 |
59.20-59.49 |
| D3 |
58.60-58.89 |
58.90-59.19 |
59.50-59.79 |
| D4 |
58.90-59.19 |
59.20-59.49 |
59.80-60.09 |
| D5 |
59.20-59.49 |
59.50-59.79 |
60.10-60.39 |
| D6 |
59.50-59.79 |
59.80-60.09 |
60.40-60.69 |
| D7 |
59.80-60.10 |
60.10-60.40 |
60.70-61.00 |
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Hurdle Classifcations
|
300 |
525 |
550 |
575 |
| HO |
<16.70 |
<29.50 |
<30.80 |
<32.10 |
| H1 |
16.70-16.89 |
29.50-29.89 |
30.80-31.19 |
32.10-32.49 |
| H2 |
16.90-16.99 |
29.90-30.19 |
31.20-31.49 |
32.50-32.79 |
| H3 |
17.00-17.29 |
30.20-30.49 |
31.50-31.79 |
32.80-33.09 |
| H4 |
17.30-18.70 |
30.50-32.00 |
31.80-33.30 |
33.10-34.60 |