Racing In South Australia
A greyhound that has never raced before is classed as a Maiden however is eligible for Juvenile events (a greyhound is a Juvenile until and including the last day of the month corresponding to its whelping in the second year).
Once a Maiden wins a Maiden or Juvenile event they then become a Grade 6 for all SA tracks over all distances. They cannot race in Maiden events anymore however if eligible for Juvenile events a greyhound can win two (three “Beat the Grader”) events. This can be at the same track or different tracks. If the greyhound was SA Bred they can win six (seven “Beat the Grader”) events again at the same track or different tracks.
“Beat the Grader” refers to when a greyhound is engaged at a meeting and is drawn into the same class of meeting a few days later before racing in the first meeting. If the greyhound wins it can remain eligible for the second meeting (maidens cannot). Beat the Grader will only really happen at Gawler as the grades are the same for Tuesday, Friday and Sunday meetings. Angle Park is different as Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are all graded with different grades. Beat the Grader might occur over Easter with Angle Park Thursday being drawn before the Thursday meeting because of Good Friday and Easter Monday being Public Holidays. So your greyhound could be in both Thursday nights before it races on the first night.
After winning your first race you become a Grade 6 greyhound. As a non SA Bred greyhound you can win three races (four “Beat the Grader”). You can win at any track in SA over any distance however once you win you become a Grade 5 at that track over all the distances. If you have won two Grade 6’s at Angle Park Monday and Angle Park Thursday your third one must be away from Angle Park. So you can only win two Grade 6’s from the three Angle Park classed tracks. It can be in any order.
As an SA Bred Grade 6 you can win many events. You can win one (two ‘Beat the Grader”)at Angle Park Thursday and Angle Park Monday over any distance however once you win you’re a Grade 5 over all distances. You can win two (three ‘Beat The Grader”) over two different distances at Gawler, APD, Strathalbyn and Mt Gambier. When you win you will be a Grade 5 over that distance however once you have won two then you will be a Grade 5 over all distances. You can win one (two ‘Beat the Grader”) over each distance at Port Augusta. Once you have won over all three distances you will be a Grade 5 greyhound on the track over all distances.
You need to be aware that if you win a Grade 6 event at Angle Park on Wednesday as an example to make you a Grade 5 and then the following week win a Grade 5 event on the Wednesday to make you a Grade 4 you will no longer be eligible for any Grade 6 events on Wednesday. Your greyhound will revert to a Grade 5. It is best to win them in order. As an example – win a Grade 6 at Gawler over 531m then win a Grade 6 at Gawler over 400m where this will maximize your returns and if you can happen to beat the grader aswell you could be winning two races for the price of one.
Remember also that if you win a Grade 6 at Angle Park on Monday or Thursday and then win a Grade 5 to become a Grade 4 greyhound this will cost you all of your Grade 6 events at any track so only win a Grade 5 event at these tracks when you have no more Grade 6 events to win. (the Non Penalty Grade 5 finals on Mondays are exempt from this as your grade will not change along with 600m and 731m racing)
SA Bred greyhounds have a lot more opportunities to win Grade 6 events than Non SA Bred however if placed properly you can maximize your returns.
Once your greyhound is a Grade 5 then you can hopefully work your way through the grades. When your greyhound becomes a Grade 4 or higher greyhound then if you have two nonconsecutive unplaced runs then you will get a down grade for your next start.
So if your greyhound was good enough to win a few races here’s how you can maximize your return.
Non SA Bred (prizemoney to winner) –
$545 Maiden win at Angle Park on Wednesday (515m)
$780 Juvenile win at Angle Park on Monday night (515m)
$780 Juvenile win at Angle Park on Monday night (515m)
$1,590 Grade 6 win at Angle Park on Thursday night (515m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Strathalbyn on Sunday (536m)
$780 Grade 6 win at Gawler on Tuesday (531m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Gawler on Sunday (531m “Beat the Grader”)
*** Beat the Grader options and Heats and Final options***
SA Bred (prizemoney to winner) –
$545 Maiden win at Angle Park on Wednesday (515m)
$780 Juvenile win at Angle Park on Monday night (515m)
$780 Juvenile win at Angle Park on Monday night (515m)
*Juveniles to be won at Gawler and APD etc
$1,590 Grade 6 win at Angle Park on Thursday night (515m)
$780 Grade 6 win at Angle Park Monday (515m)
$780 Grade 6 win at Gawler Tuesday (531m)
$780 Grade 6 win at Gawler Friday (400m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Angle Park Wednesday (515m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Angle Park Wednesday (600m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Strathalbyn on Sunday (536m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Strathalbyn on Sunday (416m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Mt Gambier on Friday (512m)
$545 Grade 6 win at Mt Gambier on Sunday (400m)
*Port Augusta up to three wins
*** Beat the Grader options and Heats and Final options***
An All Tracks calendar is released each month detailing what specific feature races are on the program for each meeting. If listed in the calendar GRSA will make every endeavor to run these races however this will depend upon nominations. Please refer to the All Tracks calendar for those specific races.
SHAUN MATHIESON
Racing Manager