OUR LOCAL SOCIETY AND GREYHOUND RACING IN FINLAND

TGK

These web-pages are created and hosted by the society of Turun Greyhound Klubi (TGK). Here we will inform the reader about the activities of our local racing club and also give information about greyhound racing in Finland.

Every season TGK has some contest days in Turku, mostly on Saturdays or Sundays. 

All those races are arranged in Turku Metsämäki Stadium, which was established in 1996. The track is situated in the middle of Metsämäki Horse Stadium, about 6 kilometres to north from the centre of Turku City. The track bends are 53 m with a gradient of 11 %. Racing distances are 325 m (sprint), 495 m, 560 m and 785 m (stayer).

You can get more information by sending e-mails to our secretary jetlanedogs(at)gmail.com or chairman heikkirahikainen(at)yahoo.com

ABOUT FINNISH WHIPPET AND GREYHOUND RACING

In our official competition system there is two different dog breeds at present: greyhounds and whippets. You can obtain more information about the union of GRL at: www.grl.fi

The union arranges competitions on not more than three greyhound tracks in Finland: Turku (Metsämäki), Oulu (Virpiniemi) and Tampere (Kauppi). All of these tracks are sand covered.

The racing season in Finland is quite short, from the end of May till October. During winters there are no competitions at all. In the summer time most of hobbyists travel from place to place to race their dogs.

You can enrol your dogs into Finnish competitions easily by using the internet once you have registered at the GRL webpage (www.grl.fi). For example, every Irish dog that has the right to compete in their own country can also run in Finland.

Usually our races are on Saturdays or Sundays between 14 and 17 o'clock (and the VETs start checking the dogs at 12.30).

Bitches and dogs usually run in the same starts, and the dogs are graded to different levels from 1 (top level) to 7 and the principle is to settle the dog to a start. There are 3 - 6 dogs in a start.

Dogs will start from the traps;
The lure is always an inside one;
They have muzzles (British or Australian model) and racing jackets (of different colours, such as the colours in Ireland.

It's possible to win mostly only small prizes in GRL races ande there are no betting possibilities All dogs are at least 15 months old and they have to pass solo.

Annually you have to by a GRL competition licence for every dog, but the owner or trainer himself does not need any licenses to take a part in competitions.

Annually you have to by a competition licence of GRL for every dog, but not for the owner or trainer.