Greyhound racing in the United States
| Greyhound racing in the United States | |
|---|---|
 A race taking place in the United States | |
| Start date | 29 May 1920 at Blue Star Amusement Park, Emeryville |
Greyhound racing in the United States is a sport and regular gambling activity. The sport is regulated by state or local law and the greyhound care is regulated by National Association of State Racing Commissions and the American Greyhound Council (AGC).[1] The AGC is jointly run by the National Greyhound Association.[2]
In recent years many greyhound tracks have closed due to declining betting revenue, encroachment by Native American gaming and commercial casino gambling into states with greyhound racing, the legalization of sports betting, and concerns over the welfare of racing greyhounds, along with general market failure in states greyhound racing attempted to enter into, as what happened in Wisconsin (where one track closed after only three years of operation, and the state's constitutional amendment to allow greyhound racing also opened up Native American gaming in the state).[3] Although most tracks currently simulcast racing from other tracks, only three tracks currently conduct actual live racing onsite, and only two tracks in West Virginia will remain in operation with the start of 2023. [4]
History
The first greyhound in the United States was registered in 1894[5] and the oval form of racing with a mechanical or artificial hare was started by Owen Patrick Smith in 1912. California was the first state to introduce an oval greyhound track in May 1920, it was the first mechanical lure oval circuit in the world. Smith opened the track at Emeryville.[6] The Emeryville arena was torn down in February 1920 to make way for the construction of a modern racetrack using the mechanical lure, described in the press as the "automatic rabbit" [7] The first race at the new park was on Saturday, May 29, 1920 [8]
A greyhound called Joe Dump set a world record of 31 race wins in 1978 and 1979; the red brindle dog was trained by JC Stanley and owned by Joe Fallon and raced primarily at Greenetrack. The record was subsequently beaten by Ballyregan Bob.[9] On 4 June 1994 a greyhound bitch called Pat C Rendezvous won her 33rd consecutive race to break Ballyregan Bob's world record and went on to win 36 consecutive races.[10][11] In 1998 a greyhound called Leos Midas won for the 103rd time to equal the United States record number of total races won, the race was at Orange Park.[12]
In November 2018, Florida voters passed a constitutional referendum banning live greyhound racing at Florida tracks after December 31, 2020.[13][14] Greyhound racing in Florida ended on December 31, 2020. A number of Florida tracks closed earlier in that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened, with a gradual fade-out on remaining tracks late in the year. The Palm Beach Kennel Club's final meet finished on New Year's Eve at 11:59:59 p.m.
Welfare
At American tracks, greyhounds are kept in kennel compounds, most kennels turn the dogs out 4 to 6 times per day. Each turnout can be from 30 to 90 minutes.[15] Because greyhound kennels often house upwards of 50–70 dogs, crating is essential to the safety and wellbeing of canine life.[16]
In addition to state law and regulations, most tracks adopt their own rules, policies and procedures. In exchange for the right to race their greyhounds at the track, kennel owners must sign contracts in which they agree to abide by all track rules, including those pertaining to animal welfare. If kennel owners violate these contract clauses, they stand to lose their track privileges and even their racing licenses. In order to be licensed to own, handle a race dog or work in a kennel, dog professionals must have a FBI background check and be licensed by the states. Additionally, the National Greyhound Association holds their membership to strict standards towards the care and handling of the dogs. Failure to comply can result in lifetime termination of membership and a ban from the sport.[citation needed]
Criticism
In Florida the amount gambled at dog tracks declined by 72% between 1990 and 2013.[17] According to a study commissioned by the legislature, the state lost between $1 million and $3.3 million on greyhound racing in 2012.[18] As recently as 2016, Florida industry professionals questioned if wagering was declining or transitioning to unreported online formats.[19]
In 2017, an animal rights organization alleged that a Pet Blood Bank in Texas was using former racing greyhounds for blood draws, and that the dogs were housed in unacceptable conditions.[20] The farm was unconnected to the National Greyhound Association (NGA) who subsequently barred members from sending greyhounds to blood banks.[21]
Active tracks
There are currently three active greyhound racetracks in the United States. The single remaining track in Arkansas (which long marketed to Memphis, Tennessee and transitioned to a casino upon gaming legalization in 2019) announced that 2022 would be its last year in operation, leaving only Mardi Gras Casino and Resort and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in West Virginia left in operation as of 2023.
In addition to the three locations mentioned above, greyhound racing is still legal, though not currently practiced in the states of Alabama, Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Connecticut. In the other 42 states, it is illegal.
Arkansas
- Southland Park Gaming and Racing, West Memphis (1956–2022)[22]
West Virginia
- Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, Cross Lanes (1985–present)
- Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, Wheeling (1976–present)
Closed tracks by state
Alabama
- Birmingham Race Course in Birmingham (1987–2020)[23][24]
- Greenetrack, Eutaw (1977–1997)
- Mobile Greyhound Park, Theodore (1973–2017)
- Victoryland, Shorter (1984–2011)
Arizona
- Amado Greyhound Park, Amado (1963–1983)
- Apache Greyhound Park, Apache Junction (1959–2004)
- Black Canyon Greyhound Park, Black Canyon City (1965–1982)
- Phoenix Greyhound Park, Phoenix (1954–2009)
- Tucson Greyhound Park, Tucson (1944–2016)[25]
- Yuma Greyhound Park, Yuma (1965–1993)
California
- Blue Star Amusement Park, Emeryville (1920)
Colorado
- Clover Leaf, Loveland (1955–2006)
- Interstate, Byers (1971–2006)
- Mile High, Commerce City (1949–2008)[26]
- Pueblo Greyhound Park, Pueblo (1949–1999)
- Rocky Mountain Greyhound Park, Colorado Springs (1948–2005)
Connecticut
- Plainfield Greyhound Park, Plainfield (1976–2005)
- Shoreline Star Greyhound Park, Bridgeport (1995–2006)[27]
Florida
- Biscayne Greyhound Track, Miami Shores (1926–1995)
- Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club, Daytona Beach (1948–2020) [28]
- Derby Lane Greyhound Track, St. Petersburg (1925–2020)
- Ebro Greyhound Track, Ebro (1955–2019)
- Flagler Greyhound Track, Miami (1932–2018)
- Hialeah Park Race Track, Miami (1922–2001?)
- Hollywood Greyhound Track, Hallandale Beach (1934–2020)
- Jacksonville Greyhound Track, Jacksonville (1935–2007)
- Jefferson County Kennel Club, Monticello (1959–2020)
- Key West Greyhound Track, Key West (1953–1991)
- Melbourne Greyhound Park, Melbourne (1990–2020)[29]
- Naples-Fort Myers Track and Entertainment Center, Bonita Springs (1957–2020)
- Orange Park Kennel Club, Orange Park (1946–2020)
- Palm Beach Kennel Club, West Palm Beach (1932–2020)
- Pensacola Greyhound Track, Pensacola (1946–2019)
- St. Johns Bayard Greyhound Track, Jacksonville (1977–2000)
- Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, Longwood (1935–2020)
- Sarasota Kennel Club, Sarasota (1944–2020)
- Seminole Greyhound Park, Casselberry (1981–2000)
- Tampa Greyhound Track, Tampa (1933–2015)
Idaho
- Coeur d’Alene Greyhound Park, Post Falls (1988–1995)[30]
Illinois
Iowa
- Bluffs Run, Council Bluffs (1986–2015)
- Q Casino, Dubuque (1985–2022)[32]
- Waterloo Greyhound Park, Waterloo (1986–1996)
Kansas
- The Woodlands, Kansas City (1989–2008)
Massachusetts
- Raynham Greyhound Park, Raynham (1940–2009)
- Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere (1935–2010)
New Hampshire
- Belmont Lakes Region Greyhound Track, Belmont (1975–2005)
- Hinsdale Greyhound Park, Hinsdale (1973–2008)
- Seabrook Greyhound Track, Seabrook (1973–2010)[33]
Oregon
- Multnomah Greyhound Park, Fairview (1933–2004)[34]
Rhode Island
- Lincoln City Greyhound Park, Lincoln (1977–2009)[35]
South Dakota
- Black Hills, Rapid City (1949–1994)
- Sodrac Park, Sioux City (1955–1995)
Texas
- Valley Race Park, Harlingen (1990–2017) [36]
- Gulf Greyhound Park, La Marque (1992–2020)[37]
- Gulf Coast Racing, Corpus Christi (1990–2020) [38]
Vermont
- Green Mountain Race Track, Pownal (1976–1991)[39]
References
- ^ "Greyhound Care at the Track". American Greyhound Council.
- ^ "Home Page". National Greyhound Association.
- ^ Nichols, Mike (7 April 2012). "Dog tracks were the wrong bet (Opinion)". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end". National Geographic.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ Jane Alexiadis, What's it Worth? Greyhound collection sale to benefit charity, San Jose Mercury News (23 December 2011).
- ^ "Emeryville Arena Being Torn Down; Lumber Used To Build Coursing Park— Automatic Rabbit Electrically Controlled Brings Ancient Sport Back Within Law", Oakland Tribune, February 13, 1920, p18
- ^ "Emeryville Coursing Park Opens Saturday", Oakland Tribune, May 27, 1920, p18
- ^ "No plans to move Joe Dump to another greyhound track". The Tuscaloosa News. 1978.
- ^ "Remember when: Pat C Rendezvous sets world record with 33rd consecutive win at Palm Beach Kennel Club". Cycle Cloud.
- ^ "Remember When Series - April 2018". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1998) April edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Greyhound racing ban signed into law in Colorado". The Denver Post. The Associated Press. 10 March 2014.
- ^ "Greyhound Racing Banned in Florida". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Off to the Races – Greyhound Facts". greyhoundfacts.org. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "National Greyhound Association: Debunking Great2K Lies about greyhound racing". www.ngagreyhounds.com.
- ^ "Annual Reports". Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ "Gambling Impact Study" (PDF). Spectrum Gaming Group. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ^ "Online Wager". Sunshine State News. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ^ Brulliard, Karin (September 23, 2017). "Allegations of neglect at dog blood bank shine light on an unregulated industry". washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "NEW - BLOOD DONOR POLICY". National Greyhound Association. November 10, 2017. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
- ^ "Florida votes end to greyhound racing; Arkansas track got a new lifeline". Arkansas Times.
- ^ "Live Racing". Birmingham greyhound Racecourse.
- ^ "As greyhound racing declines nationwide, the Birmingham Race Course is in 'survival mode". AL.com.
- ^ "Greyhound Racing". Arizona Department of Gaming Division of Racing.
- ^ "Colorado tracks gone (forever) to the dogs". The Denver Post.
- ^ "Lights Dimming At the Dog Tracks Where It All Began". New York Times.
- ^ "Live Greyhound Racing Will Come to a Conclusion on Saturday, March 28, 2020". Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club.
- ^ "Our History". Melbourne Greyhound Park.
- ^ "Greyhound Park To Stop Racing Dogs Since Opening In 1988, Track Has Lost More Than $21 Million". The Spokesman-Review.
- ^ "Racing Comes to Grove City". Grove City History.
- ^ "Iowa Greyhound Park". KWWL.
- ^ "New Hampshire Ends Live Greyhound Racing; Will Florida Follow Suit?". Broward Palm Beach New Times.
- ^ "Greyhound Racing Ban Falters In Oregon Legislature". OPB.
- ^ "HARD TIMES AT TWIN RIVER". The College Hill Independent.
- ^ "Valley Race Park". Valley Race Park.
- ^ "Gulf Greyhound Park". Gulf Greyhound Park.
- ^ "Gulf Coast Racing". Gulf Coast Racing.
- ^ "Lending firm seeks to foreclose on former Green Mountain Race Track site". Bennington Banner.