The traps are the starting boxes from which greyhounds begin a race, and the trap a dog is drawn in can have a real influence on its chance. Understanding the traps is important for greyhound betting. This guide explains the traps. It is general information and not betting advice, so always gamble responsibly and only stake money you can comfortably afford to lose.
What the traps are
The traps are the numbered starting boxes from which the greyhounds begin a race, lined up across the track. In a standard race there are six traps, numbered one to six. Understanding that the traps are the starting boxes, with six dogs each starting from a numbered trap, is the basic idea, as the trap a dog starts from determines its position at the start, which can influence how its race unfolds, making the traps an important factor.
The trap numbers
The six traps are numbered from one, on the inside of the track nearest the rail, to six, on the outside. The number tells you where a dog starts across the track. Understanding that the traps run from one on the inside to six on the outside helps you picture the start, as a dog's trap number indicates its starting position relative to the rail, which matters because the inside and outside of the track suit dogs with different running styles.
The trap colours
Each trap has a standard colour, worn by the dog so you can follow it: trap one red, trap two blue, trap three white, trap four black, trap five orange, and trap six black and white stripes. Understanding the standard trap colours helps you follow your selection during the race, as the colours let you pick out your dog around the track, and knowing them is a basic part of following greyhound racing, used consistently on racecards and in the dogs' jackets.
Why the draw matters
The trap a dog is drawn in matters because dogs have different running styles, with some preferring the inside and others the outside, so a dog in a trap that suits its style has an advantage. Our guide on greyhound running styles covers this. Understanding that the trap draw can significantly affect a dog's chance, depending on whether the trap suits its style, is why the draw is such an important factor in greyhound betting.
Inside and outside traps
Inside traps (low numbers) are near the rail and tend to suit dogs that like to run along the inside, while outside traps (high numbers) suit dogs that run wide. The middle traps are more variable. Understanding that inside traps suit inside runners and outside traps suit wide runners helps you assess the draw, as matching a dog's preferred running style to its trap is a key consideration, since a dog drawn in an unsuitable trap may be disadvantaged from the start.
The start
A good, fast break from the traps can be crucial, as greyhound races are short and an early lead is valuable, especially for dogs that like to run from the front. Understanding that the break from the traps is important, with a fast start giving a real advantage in a short race, helps you see why early pace matters, as a dog that consistently breaks well can take up a good position quickly, which is particularly valuable for front-running dogs over short distances.
Running style and the trap
How well a trap suits a dog depends largely on its running style: a railer (inside runner) prefers a low trap, while a wide runner prefers a high one. Our guide on running styles explains these. Understanding that the ideal trap depends on a dog's running style, with railers suited to inside traps and wide runners to outside ones, is central to using trap information, as it links the draw to how a dog actually runs, which is what determines whether a trap helps or hinders it.
How dogs are drawn and seeded
Dogs are allocated to traps, and in some races wide runners are seeded to outside traps to reduce interference. Our guide on trap draw and seeding covers this. Understanding that the draw is allocated, sometimes with seeding to place wide runners outside, helps you see how dogs end up in their traps, as seeding aims to give dogs of different styles room to run their race, which affects how the trap draw should be interpreted in a given contest.
Trap statistics
Some tracks publish statistics on how often each trap wins, which can hint at any trap bias, though these should be used with caution as they reflect many factors. Understanding that trap win statistics exist and can suggest patterns, but must be treated carefully, helps you use them sensibly, as a trap appearing to win more often may reflect the dogs drawn there rather than the trap itself, so such statistics are a rough guide rather than a reliable predictor.
Trap bias on some tracks
Some tracks are said to favour certain traps due to their shape, with tight tracks sometimes thought to suit inside traps. Any such bias is one factor among many. Understanding that some tracks may have a perceived trap bias, often linked to the track's configuration, helps you consider it, as the layout of a particular track can in theory affect which traps fare better, though this is just one consideration and far from a guarantee of any result.
Using trap information
Considering the trap draw, alongside a dog's running style and trap form, is a useful part of assessing a greyhound race, though like all factors it offers no guarantee. Understanding that the trap is one valuable factor among several, to be weighed with form, style and the rest, helps you use it sensibly, as matching a dog's style and trap form to its drawn trap can inform your view, while remembering that racing is unpredictable and the edge remains.
Putting trap knowledge to use
In practice, using trap knowledge means looking at a dog's running style and trap form, then judging whether its drawn trap suits it. A railer in a low trap or a wide runner in a high one is well placed; a mismatch is a warning sign. Our guide on running styles explains the link. Understanding that the practical value of the trap lies in matching it to a dog's style helps you use it sensibly, as this is the main way the draw informs greyhound betting, though it remains one factor among many and offers no guarantee.
Betting responsibly
Understanding the traps helps you assess races, but it does not guarantee winners, so treat greyhound racing as entertainment, not income. Set a budget, only stake what you can afford, and never chase losses. Our guide on how to gamble responsibly has practical tools. Understanding the traps helps you make more informed selections, but keeping your betting within your means matters far more than any factor in a race.
In short
The traps are the six numbered starting boxes, from trap one on the inside (red) to trap six on the outside (striped), with standard colours (1 red, 2 blue, 3 white, 4 black, 5 orange, 6 striped). The draw matters because inside traps suit railers and outside traps suit wide runners, so matching a dog's running style to its trap is key. A fast break helps, seeding places wide runners outside, and any trap bias is one factor among many. Always gamble responsibly.
Explore more in our Greyhound Racing guides.