How Do I Get Started in Racing?

First... read everything on this page...

Rule #1

Racing is a very labor intensive sport. If you plan to show up, plan to work. If you don't plan to work, don't plan to come.

Rule #2

See rule #1 above ;-)

Eligibility

First, you need an eligible breed. Only purebred Afghan hounds, basenjis, greyhounds, borzoi, Ibizan hounds, Irish wolfhounds, Italian greyhounds, pharaoh hounds, Rhodesian ridgebacks, salukis, Scottish deerhounds, sloughis and Cirnecco del Etna are recognized for LGRA and NOTRA. Azawakhs, chart polski and magyar agars are fully recognized for LGRA only.

Second, in order to run in a LGRA meet, your dog needs a LGRA registration number. See the LGRA website www.lgra.org for instructions on how to obtain a number.

If you want to run in an oval meet (NOTRA) your dog must have a NOTRA number. See the NOTRA Other Breed website www.notraracing.org for instructions on how to obtain a number.

Muzzles

You must have a properly fitted muzzle for your dog, and your dog must be accustomed to wearing it. If your dog is more worried about the muzzle than the lure it is not ready to race.

Blankets

You need a set of four racing blankets, sized to correctly fit your dog. In the Texas area, you may be able to get blankets from www.gocoursing.com. If necessary, you can borrow blankets initially, but it really slows things down and there is no guarantee someone else's blankets will fit your dog, so ultimately, you will want your own.

Practice

If your dog has never entered a race meet, it is considered an FTE (first time entered) and you will need to talk to us before entering a race meet.

If your dog has never run a lure before, we need to do some training. Bring the dog out to a race meet and we will practice it before, during or after the race meet.

If your dog has experience (i.e. lure coursing) but has never entered a race meet, you will need to do a qualifying run before your first race meet to demonstrate that your dog will run clean with another dog, and also to help your dog realize that this is a different sport and this bunny is not going to turn.

In either case, your dog must first be keen on the lure, then must be trained to break from the starting box. Dogs get in the box because they want to get to the "bunny." A dog that is not keen on the bunny is not ready to learn the box.

Dogs must learn to break successfully from the box, wearing a muzzle, with another dog, before they are ready to enter a meet.

Other Equipment

Even if you do not own blankets or muzzles yet, there are things you must bring, even if you just want to practice.

1. A crate or other secure way to contain your dog. We will need your help during the race meet and you can't stand around and hold your own dog all day.
2. TWO Leashes (at least). Your dog is going to run 200 yards. Unless you think you can keep up with him, you will either be letting someone else slip the dog or letting someone else catch the dog. Either way, it takes two leashes.
3. A flat nylon buckle collar. Dogs are allowed to race with collars on and it is much easier for the catcher to get a dog off of the bunny if they have a "handle" to grab. You can walk your dog to the start with any type of collar/leash combination you like, but let him wear a flat nylon collar while he is running.

Rulebooks

LGRA rules are posted on the LGRA web site.  Look under Race Secretary Information. NOTRA rules are on www.notra.org under downloads. For more Other Breed Racing info, see www.notraracing.org

Handouts

Here are a few handouts we have made up to help you. There are in .PDF format, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.

Welcome to LGRA

Excerpts of the LGRA rules

A little more about helping out at a race meet

Just for IG owners, "The Pocket Rocket Racing Primer"

Need more info? Check out our links section for other helpful sites or use the contact information on our home page to contact us.