Greyhound racing in the United States

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 of Racing Commissions and the American Greyhound Council (AGC).[1] The AGC is jointly run by the National Greyhound Association.[2]

Greyhound racing in the United States
A race taking place in the United States
Start date29 May 1920 at Blue Star Amusement Park, Emeryville

In recent years many greyhound tracks have closed due to declining betting revenue and concerns over the welfare of racing greyhounds. Only four tracks remain active for living racing in the United States with the one in Arkansas set to close by the end of 2022.[3] The law permitting racing in Iowa is due to expire in 2022 requiring renewal but it is projected to have insufficient support.[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 the Florida public passed a State Constitutional Amendment making betting on live greyhound racing at Florida tracks illegal from 2021.[13][14]

List of United States active tracks

There are currently 4 active tracks in the United States. Greyhound racing in Florida ended on December 31, 2020 after the passage of a state constitutional amendment in 2018. A number of Florida tracks closed earlier in 2020 due to COVID and never reopened and then there was a gradual phase-out throughout the fall and winter with the impending deadline, but the Palm Beach Kennel Club raced up until 11:59 PM on the final day.

The one active greyhound track in Arkansas will be phased out by the end of 2022 and is highlighted in blue.

Name Location State Notes
Southland Park Gaming and Racing West Memphis Arkansas
Q Casino Dubuque Iowa Formerly Dubuque Greyhound Park
Mardi Gras Casino and Resort Cross Lanes West Virginia Formerly Tri-State Greyhound
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack Wheeling West Virginia Formerly Wheeling Downs

By state
Legal status of US greyhound racing

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida
Ebro Greyhound Park in 2017

Idaho

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Texas

Vermont

West Virginia

Welfare
Crated greyhound at Jefferson County Kennel Club

At American tracks, greyhounds are kept in kennel compounds, in crates that are approximately three feet wide, four feet deep, and three feet high.[33] Most kennels turn the dogs out 4 to 6 times per day. Each turnout can be from 30 to 90 minutes.[34] Because greyhound kennels often house upwards of 50–70 dogs, crating is essential to the safety and wellbeing of canine life.[35]

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.

Criticism

In Florida the amount gambled at dog tracks declined by 72% between 1990 and 2013.[36] According to a study commissioned by the legislature, the state lost between $1 million and $3.3 million on greyhound racing in 2012.[37] As recently as 2016, Florida industry professionals questioned if wagering was declining or transitioning to unreported online formats.[38]

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.[39] The farm was unconnected to the National Greyhound Association (NGA) who subsequently barred members from sending greyhounds to blood banks.[40]

References
  1. "Greyhound Care at the Track". American Greyhound Council.
  2. "Home Page". National Greyhound Association.
  3. "The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end". National Geographic.
  4. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dog-days-florida-coming-end-total-demise-u-s-greyhound-n1252294 NBC News: Dec. 31, 2020: Dog Days, Florida Greyhound Racing is coming to an end and total national demise may be in sight.]
  5. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  6. Jane Alexiadis, What's it Worth? Greyhound collection sale to benefit charity, San Jose Mercury News (23 December 2011).
  7. "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
  8. "Emeryville Coursing Park Opens Saturday", Oakland Tribune, May 27, 1920, p18
  9. "No plans to move Joe Dump to another greyhound track". The Tuscaloosa News. 1978.
  10. "Remember when: Pat C Rendezvous sets world record with 33rd consecutive win at Palm Beach Kennel Club". Cycle Cloud.
  11. "Remember When Series - April 2018". Greyhound Star.
  12. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1998) April edition". Greyhound Star.
  13. "Greyhound racing ban signed into law in Colorado". The Denver Post. The Associated Press. 10 March 2014.
  14. "Greyhound Racing Banned in Florida". Greyhound Star.
  15. "Live Racing". Birmingham greyhound Racecourse.
  16. "As greyhound racing declines nationwide, the Birmingham Race Course is in 'survival mode". AL.com.
  17. "Greyhound Racing". Arizona Department of Gaming Division of Racing.
  18. "Florida votes end to greyhound racing; Arkansas track got a new lifeline". Arkansas Times.
  19. "Colorado tracks gone (forever) to the dogs". The Denver Post.
  20. "Lights Dimming At the Dog Tracks Where It All Began". New York Times.
  21. "Live Greyhound Racing Will Come to a Conclusion on Saturday, March 28, 2020". Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club.
  22. "Our History". Melbourne Greyhound Park.
  23. "Greyhound Park To Stop Racing Dogs Since Opening In 1988, Track Has Lost More Than $21 Million". The Spokesman-Review.
  24. "Racing Comes to Grove City". Grove City History.
  25. "Iowa Greyhound Park". Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
  26. "New Hampshire Ends Live Greyhound Racing; Will Florida Follow Suit?". Broward Palm Beach New Times.
  27. "Greyhound Racing Ban Falters In Oregon Legislature". OPB.
  28. "HARD TIMES AT TWIN RIVER". The College Hill Independent.
  29. "Valley Race Park". Valley Race Park.
  30. "Gulf Greyhound Park". Gulf Greyhound Park.
  31. "Gulf Coast Racing". Gulf Coast Racing.
  32. "Lending firm seeks to foreclose on former Green Mountain Race Track site". Bennington Banner.
  33. "GREY2K USA Report on Greyhound Racing in Texas (February 2013)" (PDF). grey2kusa.org. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  34. "Off to the Races – Greyhound Facts". greyhoundfacts.org. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  35. "National Greyhound Association: Debunking Great2K Lies about greyhound racing". www.ngagreyhounds.com.
  36. "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.
  37. "Gambling Impact Study" (PDF). Spectrum Gaming Group. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  38. "Online Wager". Sunshine State News. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  39. Brulliard, Karin (September 23, 2017). "Allegations of neglect at dog blood bank shine light on an unregulated industry". washingtonpost.com.
  40. "NEW - BLOOD DONOR POLICY". National Greyhound Association. November 10, 2017. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
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