Genomic diversity and selection in the racing greyhound of Great Britain

Greyhounds were originally bred for hunting and have since been intensively selected for competitive racing. This study presents the first large-scale population genomic analysis of racing Greyhounds, using genome-wide SNP data from 54 Greyhounds compared with 352 dogs from 14 other breeds. The dataset was used to investigate genetic diversity, inbreeding, and genomic regions shaped by selection for racing performance.The results show that racing Greyhounds have relatively high levels of inbreeding compared with many other breeds, reflecting strong selection for athletic traits. Several genomic regions show clear signals of recent selection and contain genes involved in morphology, sensory function, neurological processes, and musculoskeletal, cardiac, and metabolic biology. These regions are likely to contribute to the physical and performance characteristics of racing Greyhounds.This dataset provides a valuable resource for studying canine population genetics, breed formation, and the genetic basis of athletic performance. Importantly, it also offers a foundation for future research aimed at balancing performance with health and welfare through improved management of genetic diversity in racing Greyhounds.