This week is set to be another hot week across the UK, with temperatures predicted well above 30 degrees. This means that greyhound trainers and racecourses will be taking additional measures to keep their greyhounds safe and comfortable.

2025 saw the hottest summer on record, which led to 25 meetings being abandoned or cancelled in line with GBGB’s evidence-based Hot Weather Policy. This current hot spell follows a record-breaking May 2026, which saw ten meetings cancelled.

Racing is not the only sport needing to adapt to a changing climate; all sports are having to bring in new measures to ensure the well-being of their participants. GBGB’s Hot Weather Policy is not only about limiting racing. It also sets out a range of guidelines which must be followed during the summer months to safeguard greyhound welfare.

When is it too hot?

GBGB has set out a clear ‘upper limit’ whereby any racing must be either abandoned or cancelled. This is currently set at 33 degrees. With every track closely monitoring temperatures in and around their stadia, most of these meetings were proactively cancelled well ahead of trainers having to travel.

When the temperature reaches 26 degrees, all racecourses must comply with the ‘special measures’ outlined in the Hot Weather Policy to protect the welfare of their athletes by keeping them cool and suitably hydrated.

Limiting greyhounds’ exposure to heat

Limiting or cancelling parades is just one of the measures in place at the track during periods of hot weather. This means that greyhounds are outside of their air-conditioned kennel block at the racecourse for a short amount of time.

Most will complete their racing in around 30 seconds before being offered a drink and quickly going into a space to cool down. Tracks have dedicated air-conditioned cooling rooms, pools or ‘water walkways’ where the greyhounds can take a dip post-race.

All people involved in attending to greyhounds at the track have been instructed to look out for signs of heat stress in greyhounds so that they can immediately inform the veterinary surgeon on duty, as a quick response to these symptoms is vital.

Travelling in comfort

Since 2023, all greyhound trainers have been required to have suitable air conditioning in their vehicles to ensure their dogs are travelling in comfort during hot weather. Specifically, the cargo area of the vehicle must be able to maintain a temperature within a greyhound’s thermo-neutral zone (between 10°C and 26°C).

GBGB’s field team of Stipendiary Stewards and Regional Regulatory Vets regularly inspects trainers’ vans to ensure compliance with GBGB’s Rules of Racing requirements and APHA regulations. These inspections are heightened during periods of hot weather to check that they meet the required temperature standards and have suitable provision of water. Every vehicle must be cooled before loading up any greyhounds for travel.

A safe, consistent running surface

Warmer weather also has an impact on the racing surface. STRI – the expert sports surface consultants who work with every GBGB-licenced track – provide additional support and guidance around watering individual tracks. Likewise, GBGB’s Track Liaison Officer keeps in close contact with all racecourses to ensure that all hot weather protocols are being followed and that any issues are quickly identified.

In response to the changing climate, this year GBGB has begun taking regular moisture readings across all tracks to harness data which will be used to support track preparation. By looking at correlations between injury data and moisture levels, GBGB aims to provide local-level guidance to each track to ensure they can maintain the safest possible surface for their athletes to race on.

As we continue to see record-breaking summer temperatures, safeguarding greyhound welfare remains a priority for the sport. Through strict policies, careful monitoring and ongoing adaptation, greyhound racing continues to ensure that greyhounds are protected and cared for in all weather conditions.