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All greyhounds owned by an individual or a Kennel are covered by that individual's or kennel's Owner's License. An operating Licensed Kennel contracts with a track to furnish a specified number of greyhounds to race for the duration of a meeting, usually 25 to 30 in number. During the meeting, should any greyhound become injured, disabled, drop out or be ruled out by the judges, the kennel must furnish a replacement.

Kennels are allowed to replace greyhounds that are doing poorly. Such greyhounds are of little or no value to either the owner or the track. The track is interested in having the best races possible with capable greyhounds. A greyhound that is not earning is of no value to the kennel.

The age at which a greyhound can begin its racing career is governed by this regulation in Florida: "No greyhound under the age oftwelve months can run in an official race other than races fashioned for greyhounds of the same age." Other states operate under the rules of the state; check the state of your interest.

Actually most greyhounds start their careers in racing from sixteen months to two years of age. The day the greyhound is whelped (born) starts its age.

The length of time a greyhound races is dependent on its capability. Present standards and practice finds most greyhounds withdrawn from racing by the time they reach six years of age. Winning capability and its earnings must be the governing factors in keeping a greyhound in competition. Racing is the business of a kennel or owner and they do not keep nonpaying greyhounds on the racing circuit. Greyhounds that race after reaching six years of age are few and far between, they are the exception and worthy of note when found. In order to get the most enjoyment from greyhound racing one must understand the GRADING system used. Greyhounds can be classified as Self-grading, in other words, each greyhound determines its Grade by its wins and losses in racing.

"From Rule 305 B - 1.13 (1) Before the opening of a racing meet, the Racing Secretary, after sufficiently schooling all greyhounds and considering their past performances, shall classify and assign them to their proper grade."

Even at the beginning of a meeting the performance of each greyhound in its schooling races largely determines its grade. For example: At its last track a greyhound had achieved Grade A and was in that grade at the finish of the meeting. Its schooling races at the new track showed by performance that the greyhound was in line with Grade B so the Racing Secretary classified it in Grade B. Now the greyhound will, by its own performance, either remain in Grade B or advance to Grade A by winning first place in a scheduled race. For the entire meeting at this track each greyhound then becomes its own classifier, moving up-grade or down-grade, depending on its own wins and losses.

Greyhound Tracks are located in various countries of the world including the following: United States, Mexico, England, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, and Indochina, just to name a few. All countries do not operate under the same regulations. Greyhound races are made up having seven, eight, and nine greyhounds as the number in each race, and this too depends on the country involved.

The United States tracks use eight greyhounds per race. Presently, i.e., 1973, there are nine states in the United States that have legalized greyhound racing. These have a total of thirty-eight greyhound tracks with two more new ones under construction. A number of other states are in various stages of progress in the process of legalization of greyhound racing.

Greyhound races are scheduled by licensed tracks through the State Racing Commission of the state in which the track is located. The length of time each track operates, called a meeting, can range from a few programs to 120 or more days. Programs are scheduled as matinees (afternoons) and night programs. Matinees are usually made up of eleven races and start at 1:00 or 1:30 P.M. Night programs are greater in number and are usually made up of twelve races and start at 7:45 or 8:00 P.M.