First split in greyhound racing

A first split is the time a greyhound takes from the release of the starting boxes to a race's first timing point, and it is the standard measure of early speed. Races are timed electronically under rule 113 of the Greyhounds Australasia Rules (GAR), which counts 0.07 seconds as one length. So a first split 0.28 seconds quicker puts a dog about 0.28 / 0.07 = 4 lengths clear at that point.

Form guides print it as the first split, first sectional, first section time or 1st Sec. It means something only beside other first splits from the same track and distance; greyhound sectional times sets it beside the run home time and the finish. Greyhound racing betting explains why the run to the first turn matters on the dogs.

Where the first split is timed

The GAR require electronic timing by a person the controlling body or the Stewards authorise (rule 113). Greyhound Racing Victoria's local rule 42.1 starts the clock when the starting box gate is released and stops it when the leading dog's nose reaches the winning post. Rule 42.2 allows a unit finer than 0.01 seconds where the equipment supports it, which is why some times carry three decimals (local rules effective 1 November 2025).

Greyhound Racing Victoria describes its traditional splits as times taken at physical timing beams and shown on the semaphore board after the race. The first beam sits its own distance from the boxes at each start, even at one track, as the records below show.

Use each dog's own first split, printed beside its name. The split under the race result is the time of whichever dog led at that point, which is how Greyhound Racing Victoria's glossary defines a split.

Compare first splits at one track and distance only

The records show why. FastTrack lists The Meadows' record first splits as 4.89 seconds from the 525m start, 8.72 from the 600m and 4.79 from the 730m (checked 8 October 2026). The 600m record is not slow running: its beam sits further from its boxes, so the 8.72 - 4.89 = 3.83 seconds between them measures distance to the beam, not speed.

Within one track and distance, still choose the figure with care:

• Best or typical. Greyhound Racing NSW's expert form shows each dog's best first split at the track and distance, and the first-section averages on its race fields cover the previous two years (checked 8 October 2026). A median of recent clean runs is usually a better guide than either.
• The start. A dog slow to begin, or checked before the beam, has a split that measures its trouble, so read the stewards' comments first.
• The night. A quick or slow meeting moves every split, so compare a dog with its own race before comparing races.

First splits in a speed map

A speed map turns first splits into a forecast of the first turn. Three illustrative dogs, with typical splits from one track and distance:

Box 4 is quickest but heads out, while box 6 heads in, so their paths cross. With a length's start, box 4 should be across first, and box 6 must tuck in behind it or risk a check. Box 7, two lengths back on a straight line, stays out of that crossing. Greyhound speed maps builds the same read for a full field and turns it into a price.

Where B337 fits

B337 does not time races or rate dogs, so the early-speed read is yours. The Terminal shows the market: greyhound races on its racing board with a countdown to the jump, each bookmaker that prices the race in its own column, dog by dog, and exchange back and lay beside them. Prices come from 40+ bookmakers across racing and sports and are read on a repeating cycle, not tick by tick, so check the price in your account before you bet. A free account opens a limited view of the Terminal with live odds.