Many greyhound fans love to see the cream of the crop race at betting races. Track attendance generally increases during qualifying races leading up to the main event and there may even be newspaper or radio articles about it.
But not everyone is happy when the big races come. My friend Woody hates them. He says it’s stupid to bet on stunt races because the favorite runs out of bets and generally wins. I don’t have the stats, but you’re probably right that the favorite in the biggest races wins more times than the favorite in most races.
After all, all the dogs in the betting race have competed against the best dogs and beaten them to reach the final race. Of course, for me that also means that any dog in the race is capable of beating the other dogs, given the chance and some luck or a little more room to run or the benefit of another dog’s mistake.
But even if the winner comes in low, there are other reasons to hit the dog track when races are at stake. For one thing, the track wants to draw fans into betting to increase control, so don’t be surprised if the other races on the card are better than usual as well. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I find that dogs in most races are easier to handicap when races are at stake. Perhaps because they are dogs that run more faithfully to form than some dogs?
For whatever reason, I always do well in racing on the same card as in betting races. I don’t bet differently or bet more, but it seems like I’m going home with more money than I usually do. Maybe it’s the atmosphere or the fact that there are people who don’t normally come to the dog track. Remember, mutual bets are betting against the other bettors. If the other bettors don’t know how to play handicap, that gives people like us an advantage.
For me, in addition to the advantage of winning a little more, the races at stake mean that I can see the best athletes doing what they do best. Victorious. Dogs really enjoy it. Almost all fans like the special quality of the events surrounding the betting and the winner recognition ceremony. It is something out of the ordinary for dogs and fans and adds some spice to life. Let’s face it, we all need something a little special from time to time. Isn’t that why we go to the dog track?