I love Tuesdays! (Hall Green, Birmingham)

Member Name: mrcheese

Product:	Hall Green, Birmingham
Date:	02/05/02 (1879 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun

Disadvantages: None

I live for Tuesday nights once a month. Me and the missus manage to palm the babbies off at her Old Dear's and we get tarted up for a blinding evening out. The missus and her mates shovel the make-up on with a trowel and get down to the local Gala Bingo, while me, Wayne and Juksey slap on the old CK, kit ourselves up in our best Ben Sherman's and pile on down to Hall Green Dogs.

Me and the lads always do the special '6 pack' offer available at Hall Green which gives great value for money. A tenner will get you your entrance to the upper grandstand, chicken or scampi in a basket, a pint of carling (or a glass of wine for the ladies), two free £1 bets and your entrance fee paid for next time you go.

On a Tuesday we usually get oursleves in to the upper grandstand about 7pm (you can always go for the lower granstand which is cheaper but full of Kev's). We get the programme of racing and then get the beers in to whet the old whistle.

There are 13 races on a Tuesday night and the action kicks off at 7.20pm. Basically each race consists of 6 dogs going hell for leather after an electronic hare around the track. The main distance they run over is 480 metres, which is 1 1/2 laps of the track, but sometimes they run over longer distances like the handicap races which can go for as long as 645 metres.

If you decide to slum it with the Kev's in the lower granstand then there are loads of Arthur Daly types with saddle bags who are willing to take your hard earned cash off you. These are the men that the professional punters will go to because they give you the best odds. However, they usually demand a minimum bet of £10 per race and it just ain't worth it.

You're not gonna become a millionaire winning at the dogs, but my missus ain't gonna do the same at bingo either. It is all about having a bit of fun with the lads, so the best thing to do is get yourself in the upper grandstand and bet o
n the tote. The tote is the official betting shop with the track and although the odds ain't as good, you can place a minimum bet of only 50p.

If you are interested in winnig a few notes as well as having a bit of fun then follow my method:

1/ 3 people stick £30 each into a pot with one person bunging in an extra £1 = £91 total. Nominate a 'pot and drinks man', a 'winnings man' and a 'bet man'.

2/ Study the race programme for each race and pick 3 dogs out of the 6 who are your favourites and put them in order. For example you think dogs 4, 2 and 6 will win in that order. Therefore, dog 4 is your hot favourite.

3/ Get the 'bet man' to place 3 seperate £1 reverse forecasts bets on dogs 4 and 2, dogs 4 and 6 and dogs 2 and 6 respectively. The reverse forecast means that either dogs 4 and 2, 4 and 6 or 2 and 6 finish first and second in any order and you will win some loot. These 3 seperate £1 reverse forecasts will cost you £6.

4/ Place a £1 straight trio on dogs 4, 2 and 6 in that order. This will cost you £1.

5/ A total of £7 a race. 13 races x £7 = £91.

6/ Before the start of every race the 'pot man' gives the 'bet man' £7 to place the bets. The 'winnings man' collects any winnings after each race and hides it away. At the end of the night the winnings are divvied up between three.

We ALWAYS win and have enough money to cover the drinks, have a curry and still come away with a couple of quid in our pockets. It doesn't turn you into Richard Branson, but it is always a good laugh and a bit of midweek excitement.


The dog track is well signposted off the A34 from Birmingham City Centre heading south onto York Road. You can always pop in for a few sherberts before the action starts at the Bull's Head just on the junction if you find yourself arriving early. Quality pub.


Lads, beer, betting and curry.
That's what life is all about and you can get it all in spades at Hall Green Dog Track.

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