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Greyhound racing is one of the richest and historic disciplines within sports. With a huge background in sports betting, greyhound racing has become, throughout history, one of the most followed events to place bets on, as its fast-paced action has been enjoyed by millions worldwide.

It’s precisely its worldwide background and reach that leads us to today’s article, where we will discuss the impact and the statistics of greyhound racing around the globe, showcasing how different countries carry out greyhound racing events and the effect of betting, especially greyhound betting websites in the UK, has on the discipline.

Therefore, throughout this article, we’ll look at some of the most popular countries for greyhound racing, comparing them to see how each one works and the average statistics that make each of the countries so unique.

Global Overview: The World’s Best at Greyhound Racing

Although Greyhound racing is considered a worldwide phenomenon, certain countries lead the way in practicing this discipline.  Of course, the four biggest countries when it comes to greyhound racing are none other than the UK, Ireland, Australia, and the USA, all of which we will be covering later on.

Although countries like Mexico, New Zealand, and Spain are also very fond of greyhound racing, the discipline is either not big enough, it doesn’t follow a clear structure or the discipline has been determined as illegal and is only practiced unofficially, which leaves them out of this article, although it’s still relevant to mention them.

United Kingdom: A Cornerstone of British Culture

We couldn’t talk about Greyhound racing without talking about the United Kingdom, the place where Greyhound racing grew the most, and the country where such discipline is the most popular. For nearly a century, spectators throughout all the UK have been able to enjoy fast-paced action and historic events that have shaped up, not only the history of greyhound racing but also the British sports landscape as a whole.

Based on 2023 data, the United Kingdom held an estimate of more than 20,000 races in just one year, with and average of 6 dogs competing on each race, that’s a total of 120,000 dogs participating just in 2023. Regarding fast-paced action, the average race time covered just 28,5 seconds, which clearly shows how British Greyhound racing is one of the biggest and most exciting events within British sport. We mustn’t forget that British Greyhound racing has one of the lowest percentages when it comes to the favorite winning the race, with it happening on only 33% of occasions, that’s 1 every 3!

With a total of 19 active and licensed stadiums, the United Kingdom maintains its greyhound racing culture, something which can be clearly seen on the amount given in prize money, which totaled to over 15 million pounds in 2023 just in rewards. When it comes to betting money, almost 2 billion pounds are wagered, on average, every year, a true achievement.

Ireland: The Breeding Powerhouse

Although the UK is the country which holds the reputation for Greyhound racing, the truth is that it wouldn’t be possible without the help of Ireland, the country that, although not as big in terms of competition, breeds approximately 90% of greyhounds that go on to compete in the UK, a true achievement.

Although the estimate of participants is 12,000 for the whole year, the truth is that Ireland has some of the world’s most well-known tracks, 15 active tracks to be exact, and events, like the Irish Greyhound Derby or the Shelbourne 600 at Shelbourne Park.

Despite the sport being less popular than in the UK, although wagered money remains at an estimate of 75 million pounds and prize money ascends to 125,000 for the Irish Greyhound Derby, the truth is that, if it weren’t for Ireland, the UK would have nothing to do to compete against its counterpart, Australia, which we will be covering later.

Still, with an average of 6 dogs per race, Irish Greyhound Racing remains an important piece of Irish sport culture, with many individuals involving themselves, whether it’s by watching or betting, to the event.

Australia: The Greyhound Powerhouse

Although Greyhound racing emerged in the UK, it’s Australia where Greyhound racing has the most activity, with insane prize pools and a huge following. With over 39,000 races held nationwide in just one year, over 30,000 active racers form the Australian Greyhound Racing system, with competition prizes going over the 1-million-dollar mark.

With an annual prize pool of over $100 million and an estimate of over 10 million dollars for welfare spending, Australia continues to develop Greyhound racing, climbing the pyramid to become the biggest country in the world when it comes to Greyhound Racing.

With a higher win rate (39%), average field size (8 greyhounds), and overall track time (29.3 seconds) compared to that of the UK, Australia’s Greyhound racing is much more unpredictable and exciting, with races that catch the eye of many individuals worldwide, and especially those withing the Land Down Under, with many sports sites dedicated only to Greyhound racing.

USA: A Fallen Giant

We have talked about how Australia has taken Greyhound Racing to the next level, transforming the sport into a nationwide event, but across the ocean, on the other side of the world, things are vastly different, as the USA is slowly making its own grave, with it being only a matter of time before the sport disappears.

When it comes to 2023 statistics, the number of races held in one year in the USA was only 900, practically 3 per day, a very low number for a country that, throughout its history, used to follow discipline thoroughly. Average attendances have also fallen drastically, with an average of 1,000 spectators per event, which has severely affected its presence in different sites and a low turnover rate.

Not to mention the lowered prize pools, with none exceeding 20,000 dollars, and only two active and licensed tracks in the whole country, making it clear that the last race is closer than ever.

Up and Down

Some like it, some don’t, but it’s clear that the impact greyhound racing has had in the history of sport is notable. Thanks to compelling statistics, greyhound racing is growing considerably, although that is only in countries where this activity is seen positively.

Discussions continue on whether the sport is ethical, but, in many countries, the popularity of this discipline and the impact data has had on the development of this discipline is notable, and it’s slowly transforming how many perceive greyhound racing as a global event.

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