Vung Tau province is not only renowned for its beautiful beaches, but also some of Vietnam’s best dog races hosted by the Lam Son Racecourse.
The southern city of Vung Tau is not only renowned for its beautiful beaches, but also some of Vietnam’s best dog races hosted by the Lam Son Racecourse.
Owners have grown to love watching their dogs compete.Around 10 races are run every Friday and Saturday night, from 19:00–22:00.
Dogs chase down a "fake quarry" attached to the racing track. Races are decided over 450m and between every eight competing dogs.
Visitors can legally bet on winners, exacta betting, or trifecta betting. In Exacta, the bettor chooses first and second place finishers in order. The Trifecta is the same but also includes third place. Minimum bets are VND10,000.
Gamblers usually consult a programme describing each participating dog and their performance records.
Vietnam Sport Entertainment Service Company (SES-VN) has run greyhound racing since receiving an official license in 2001. Vung Tau City is Southeast Asia’s only greyhound racing venue.
Nguyen Ngoc My, an overseas Vietnamese from Australia, is responsible for introducing the sport to Vietnam. My is a passionate greyhound enthusiast, the preferred Irish breed for dog racing all over the world. A mature greyhound weighs 22–30kg and can cost as much as US$2,000.
Lam Son Racecourse currently trains 800 greyhounds. After five months of training, greyhound racing careers usually last at least four years.
Taking the dogs to the track
Choosing the best dog to bet on
Taking the dogs to their tracks
All the cages are numbered according to the numbers of the dogs
A "fake quarry" attached to the racing track
The competition begins
Rounding a turn on a track.
The strongest dog athlete takes the lead
The scoreboard tells which dog is leading the race
An unlucky bettor
Lucky bettors receiving cash prizes
Preparing for a new round
After the race, the dogs are taken to a specific area for rest to prepare for the next race.
