It is hard to evaluate some of the Australian form as I am not totally sure about the grading system.

Which tracks are thought of as Top tracks...and which are thought of as lower class where the dogs would then struggle on a Top track.

As simple as possible please as I am a novice. lol.

The grading systems vary from state to state. The grading guidlines in Victoria can be found here: EXTERNAL LINK
In Victoria, Sandown and The Meadows are your two metro tracks, and their main meeting (Thurs at Sandown and Sat at the Meadows) generally attracts the higher class greyhound as the prizemoney on offer is significantly better than the country tracks.

In terms of which tracks are better than others - depends on who you ask!

The city tracks have class 1 meetings graded from 5 - lowest grade, to 1 - top grade. Albion Park, Sandown, The Meadows, Cannington and Angle Park also have lower class meetings.

For instance Albion Park has a Class 1 meeting on Thursday nights.
A 520m 5th grade currently has first prize of $3140, 4th grade $3270, a Best 8 (best available mixed field from Grade 1 down) $3700.

Monday night at Albion Park is a class 2 meeting with first prize in a 5th grade $1310. And a Best 8 being worth $1520 to the winner.

Wednesday night is a Class 3 meeting with a 5th grade having a first prize of $680, and a Best 8 $740.

These figures vary from state to state but racing can generally be divided up into Class 1 - city, Class 2 TAB class (5th grade win in NSW $1050), and Class 3 country class where first prizemoney may only be 300-400 hundred dollars (less for maiden races). Queensland recognises 5 Classes and regards NSW country class as Class 4. Class 5 is straight track racing at Capalaba.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Tom

Most of our best dogs race at many different tracks depending on what race is happening there. Nearly all of our tracks have Group and Feature races (Cups, etc) so you'll see the best dogs racing there at that time.

However, when there are no Group races on offer (rare) these dogs will usually race at one of the major city tracks.

I have noticed a dog on here down as raced in an 'open'race...is this just wrongly described as it has also ran grade 5 at Bulli and Nowra. Would this be classed as low grade ?

Rather than follow the grades, which can be pointless, just try and count the city wins in 1-2-3 grade, as these are often the only high class races on a program, with many at this level the equal of most Group races.

The same applies for all the TAB tracks, any wins at that level and the dog is a class animal.

Even at the city tracks, the 5th grades are often low class events.

One more question, then I'll leave you all alone.

Is a dog automatically upgraded after a win?... as I have seen a dog with three consecutive wins in G5 (different tracks)?

LOL - it depends where you are -

In Queensland you can win 2 5th grades in Class 3 (doesn't matter which track) before being upgraded to 4th grade in class 3 at all tracks, but after 1 4th grade win you are upgraded to 3rd grade in class 3 at all tracks, and after 1 3rd grade win you are upgraded to 2nd grade etc.

Class 3 wins don't affect class 2 and class 1 grading. But a class 2 win counts as a win in class 3 as well. And a class 1 win counts as a win in class 2 and class 3 as well.

Trainers are free to nominate for whatever class they like.

And in Qld the classes are divided into two distance categories - 0-599m and 600m+. So you can be top grade in class 1 over 520m and still be eligible for a class 3 5th grade over 600m.

In New South Wales, you can win 2 Class 2 5th grades over a particular distance on a particular track before going up to 4th grade for that distance and track. Then 1 win upgrades you to a 3rd grade etc.

But you start afresh for each distance on each track. Thus you can win 2 420m 5th grades at Lismore, then 2 520m 5th grades, then 2 635m 5th grades. You can then go to Casino and win 2 411m 5th grades etc. - but this also means in the end that the competition in 5th grades is tougher in NSW than in Qld.

Class 3 grading in NSW is different again - I need to get the grading policy out to work out how my dogs will be graded in class 3 in NSW.

Dropping grades likewise depends on where you are.

If you think it sounds confusing - it is! We need a uniform national grading policy. But then even the width between the tracks of a railway line changes at state borders in Australia!!!
Cheers,
Tom

PS you can get a lot of information from the Greyhound Racing Victoria website. It has what looks to be a fairly complete record of dog performances and total prizemoney won over the last few years - tho I've found gaps and partial records for dogs' performances in 2005 and earlier (It's possible that there could be more recent gaps but I haven't noticed them). Prizemoney won gives you probably the best indication of the quality of dog you are dealing with as far as race performances go. Just insert the name of the dog, EXTERNAL LINK

Thanks for the detailed info Tom,

It answers a few questions regarding some 'superstar type claims' by certain people.
Think I'll stick to genetics from now on !!! lol.

you are a grade 5 at all tracks and all distances

when you win a race you go to grade 4 only at that track and distance where you won at....if already a higher grade as in grade 4 or 3 you go up a grade still at that track and only at that distance

so for example ballarat you can race at 390m 450m 550m 650m......you win a race at the 390m you go to a 4th grade at that distance only you are still a 5th grade over 450m 550m and 650m

once you have 2 unplaced runs at that track and distance you also move down a grade

so as example again you win at ballarat 390m ...you then go to 4th grade next 2 starts are both unplaced you then go back to 5th grade

only time this changes is if you have won 4 or more "city class" races or 20k in prizemoney then you can be upgraded if determined by grader

so theroretically you could win 30 odd races in victoria without ever racing in a race other than a 5th grade