Pace is more of an issue for horse handicappers than it is for greyhound handicappers. There are many sources for pace figures on horse races, but few for dog races.
This may be because dog races are so much shorter than thoroughbred races. Or it may be because many people think that pace isn’t a factor in greyhound racing. That’s just not true.
So, what is pace, anyhow? Well, one definition is “the speed set by the lead greyhound” in a race. That sound simple, but it’s not. Pace isn’t just the speed of the fastest greyhound in a race. It’s how speed works as the race unfolds.
For instance, if there’s a real speedball in a race, it’s not a given that the race will have a fast pace. If the speedball can’t break well, doesn’t run as fast without competition or is outmatched by classier dogs, the pace might be slower than the speedball’s usual races.
However, put that speedball in a post position it likes, add another dog that breaks and runs to the lead, and you’ll have a race with a much faster pace. It’s all relative. Usually, races with one or more breakers in them have a faster pace than races with mostly closers.
Once you’ve figured out the likely pace of a race, there’s still another step to picking the winner. You have to look at the speed dogs and figure out whether they have what it takes to stand up to the pace of this race.
Some speed dogs burn themselves out if the pace is too fast. This is why breakers sometimes fade at the end of a race. When the pace is too fast, their speed actually works against them. They end the race with nothing left and the dogs near the lead close on them and then pass them.
So, when you’re figuring pace, keep in mind that it counts at the end of the race, as well as at the beginning.
