Page 8 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW SPECIAL ISSUE 7

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 0 8

AMERICAN SIGHTHOUND AMATEUR RACING

BY M.-DOMINIQUE CRAPON DE CAPRONA - USA

A few key facts

NOTRA and LGRA are independent umbrella associations regulating racing events by their
racing clubs across the USA.

LGRA derives its scoring system from NOTRA and Whippet racing.

Dogs do not race for money but for Championship titles.

Dogs can start racing at the age of 1 year. There is no limit to veteran age if the dog is fit
and successfully passes the inspection at the beginning of each day of racing.
A dog can be pulled from racing for lameness at any time.

There are 3 programs of racing per breed per event.
Males and females run together.
There is a maximum of 4 dogs per race.
The dogs wear blankets with numbers 1 (red), 2 (blue), 3 (white) and 4 (green) and muzzles
are compulsory. Blankets are changed randomly after each program.

Lure operators cannot run the lure for their own dogs.
Foul judges cannot judge races that include dogs they own.
Finish line judges cannot judge races that include dogs they own.

At regular events, dogs are either starting from boxes or are hand-slipped. Starting boxes
are compulsory at the Nationals events.

These two sports require work from all the people involved, boxing, releasing, judging,
running the lure, catching the dogs.

At the beginning of an event, all dogs are inspected for lameness, in heat females and
proper muzzles and kept an eye on during the event.
Except in a few cases, the tracks are set up on the day before or the day of the event.

Length of track
LGRA: 200 yards (183 meters)
NOTRA: The races may be at short (300 yards or under/220 meters), medium (301 to 400
yards – 350 meters), or long distances (400 yards or more) at the option of the Host Club,
subject to NOTRA approval. The medium distances are considered the standard distances

and should be most frequently used.