Greyhound racing in the United States
| Greyhound racing in the United States | |
|---|---|
 A race taking place in the United States | |
| Start date | May 29, 1920, at Blue Star Amusement Park, Emeryville |
Greyhound racing in the United States is a sport[1] and parimutuel gambling activity. The industry is regulated by state law and greyhound care is regulated by the American Greyhound Council (AGC)[2] and the National Greyhound Association.[3]
Beginning in roughly 1990, and continuing over the next three decades, the vast majority of 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.[4] Although roughly one-half of US states offer online advance-deposit wagering as well as off-track betting and race and sports book betting, as of 2024, only two tracks currently conduct actual live racing onsite, both in West Virginia.[5]
History
[edit]The first greyhound in the United States was registered in 1894.[6]
Owen Patrick Smith began to work on a design for a mechanical lure in the early 1900s, and finally, after a number of failures had success in California.[7]
In February 1920, Smith, along with Tom Keen and George Sawyer, tore down the Emeryville, California arena to make way for the construction of a modern racetrack using this mechanical lure, described in the press as the "automatic rabbit"[8] This new track held its first races on Saturday, May 29, 1920.[9]
In Florida, the amount gambled at dog tracks declined by 72% between 1990 and 2013.[10] According to a study commissioned by the legislature, the state lost between $1 million and $3.3 million on greyhound racing in 2012.[11] In November 2018, Florida voters passed a constitutional referendum banning greyhound racing at tracks after December 31, 2020.[12][13] Some Florida tracks closed earlier in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened before the December deadline. Live greyhound racing in Florida ended on December 31, 2020.
Active tracks in West Virginia
[edit]
As of 2024, there are only two active greyhound racetracks in the United States,[14] both located in the state of West Virginia and owned by hospitality conglomerate Delaware North.[15] Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack has operated greyhound races in Wheeling since 1976, while Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, formerly known as Tri-State Greyhound Park, has operated in Cross Lanes since 1985.
Delaware North has noted that they make very little profit on live greyhound racing, but turn a modest profit on simulcasting.[16] In November 2022, a spokesperson for Delaware North noted that the company "would support legislation to run its casinos without greyhound racing", and that year's change in the makeup of the West Virginia Legislature could see support for it dwindle.[17]
Attempts have been made to ban greyhound racing by the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2017 and 2020, but these efforts were stifled by Governor and West Virginia Senate, respectively.[18]
In 2021, Bill 3093 was introduced to the West Virginia House of Delegates to decouple dog racing licenses from racetrack casinos, "ending the state mandate for unprofitable greyhound racing."[19] If passed, the bill, with the West Virginia House Judiciary committee since March 2021,[20] would further weaken the economic viability of greyhound racing in the state.
In 2023, H.R. 3894 was introduced during the 118th Congress to ban greyhound racing at the federal level. this bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry of the House Committee on Agriculture.[21]
At the two remaining West Virginia tracks, attendance is down more than 50 percent in recent years, but as of late 2023, handle remains strong, at approximately $1 million dollars for each day of racing.[22]
In addition to West Virginia, live greyhound racing is still legal, though not currently practiced, in the states of Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Kansas, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Records
[edit]
In 1951, a greyhound named Real Huntsman won 27 races in a row in Florida.[23]
In 1978 and 1979, a greyhound named Joe Dump set a world record of 31 consecutive wins.[24] The red brindle dog was trained by J.C. Stanley and owned by Joe Fallon and raced primarily at Greenetrack in Alabama.
On June 4, 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.[25][26]
In 1995, a greyhound called JJ Doc Richards won his 37th consecutive greyhound race to beat Pat C Rendezvous' record.[27]
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.[28]
Simulcasting
[edit]Simulcast, off-track betting, race and sports book betting, and/or online advance-deposit wagering of live greyhound racing from Australia, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and West Virginia, remains legal in the following US States: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.[29][30]
Closed tracks by state
[edit]Alabama
[edit]- Birmingham Race Course in Birmingham (1987–2020)[31][32]
- Greenetrack, Eutaw (1977–1997)
- Mobile Greyhound Park, Theodore (1973–2017)
- Victoryland, Shorter (1984–2011)
Arizona
[edit]- 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, South Tucson (1944–2016)[33]
- Yuma Greyhound Park, Yuma (1965–1993)
Arkansas
[edit]- Southland Park Gaming and Racing, West Memphis (1956–December 2022)[34][35]
California
[edit]- Baden Kennel Club, San Francisco (1933 - 1937)
- Blue Star Amusement Park, Emeryville (1920)
Colorado
[edit]- Clover Leaf, Loveland (1955–2006)
- Interstate, Byers (1971–2006)
- Mile High, Commerce City (1949–2008)[36]
- Pueblo Greyhound Park, Pueblo (1949–1999)
- Rocky Mountain Greyhound Park, Colorado Springs (1948–2005)
Connecticut
[edit]- Plainfield Greyhound Park, Plainfield (1976–2005)
- Shoreline Star Greyhound Park, Bridgeport (1995–2006)[37]
Florida
[edit]
- Biscayne Greyhound Track, Miami Shores (1926–1995)
- Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club, Daytona Beach (1948–2020)[38]
- 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 (1934–2007)
- Jefferson County Kennel Club, Monticello (1959–2020)
- Key West Greyhound Track, Key West (1953–1991)
- Miami Beach Kennel Club, Miami Beach (1928–1980)
- Melbourne Greyhound Park, Melbourne (1990–2020)[39]
- 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
[edit]- Coeur d’Alene Greyhound Park, Post Falls (1988–1995)[40]
Illinois
[edit]Iowa
[edit]- Bluffs Run, Council Bluffs (1986–2015)
- Dubuque Greyhound Park / Q Casino, Dubuque (1985–2022)[42]
- Waterloo Greyhound Park, Waterloo (1986–1996)
Kansas
[edit]- Camptown Greyhound Park, Frontenac (1995–1996)
- The Woodlands, Kansas City (1989–2008)
- Wichita Greyhound Park, Wichita (1989–2007)[43]
Massachusetts
[edit]- Raynham Greyhound Park, Raynham (1940–2009)
- Wonderland Greyhound Park, Revere (1935–2010)
Montana
[edit]- Great Falls Dog Track, Great Falls (1950's)
Nevada
[edit]- Las Vegas Downs, Henderson (1981–1983)
New Hampshire
[edit]- Belmont Lakes Region Greyhound Track, Belmont (1975–2005)
- Hinsdale Greyhound Park, Hinsdale (1973–2008)
- Seabrook Greyhound Park, Seabrook (1973–2010)[44]
New Jersey
[edit]- Union Kennel Club, Linden (1930's)
New York
[edit]- Nassau Kennel Club, Mineola, Long Island (1930's)[45]
Oregon
[edit]- Multnomah Greyhound Park, Fairview (1933–2004)[46]
Rhode Island
[edit]- Twin River Casino / Lincoln Greyhound Park, Lincoln (1977–2009)[47]
South Dakota
[edit]- Black Hills, Rapid City (1949–1994)
- Sodrac Park, Sioux City (1955–1995)
Texas
[edit]- Valley Race Park, Harlingen (1990–2017)[48]
- Gulf Greyhound Park, La Marque (1992–2020)[49]
- Gulf Coast Racing, Corpus Christi (1990–2020)[50]
Vermont
[edit]- Green Mountain Race Track, Pownal (1976–1991)[51]
Wisconsin
[edit]- Dairlyland Greyhound Park, Kenosha (1990–2019)[52]
- Fox Valley Greyhound Park, Kaukauna (1990–1995)
- Geneva Lakes Kennel Club, Delavan (1990–2005)
- St Croix Meadows Greyhound Race Park, Hudson (1991–2001)
- Wisconsin Dells, Lake Delton (1990–1996)
References
[edit]- ^ "Dog racing | Greyhound racing, betting, tracks | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Greyhound Care at the Track". American Greyhound Council. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ "Home Page". National Greyhound Association. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ Nichols, Mike (April 7, 2012). "Dog tracks were the wrong bet (Opinion)". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ "The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end". National Geographic. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ LaPointe, Michael (May 5, 2020). "The Fascinating Origins of Greyhound Racing". The Paris Review. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "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
- ^ "Annual Reports". Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ^ "Gambling Impact Study" (PDF). Spectrum Gaming Group. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ "Greyhound racing ban signed into law in Colorado". The Denver Post. The Associated Press. March 10, 2014.
- ^ "Greyhound Racing Banned in Florida". Greyhound Star. November 7, 2018.
- ^ Stimpson, Ashley (June 12, 2023). "Saturday Afternoon at the Last Dog Track in America - Belt Magazine". beltmag.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "Venues". www.delawarenorth.com. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Part Three: The Case To 'Uncouple' Greyhound Racing And W.Va.'s State Government". WVPB. July 5, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Will A New Legislative Makeup Affect W.Va.'s Greyhound Racing Industry?". WVPB. November 10, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "National bill introduced that would halt West Virginia's greyhound racing". WBOY.com. June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ "Legislative History | Greyhound Racing Facts". greyhoundracingfacts.org. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ "Bill Status - Complete Bill History". www.wvlegislature.gov. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3894/all-actions?overview=closed [bare URL]
- ^ "Going The Way Of The Greyhounds? - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report". paulickreport.com. February 7, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ Writer, Tommy Deas Sports. "The Legend of Joe Dump". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Writer, Tommy Deas Sports. "The Legend of Joe Dump". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "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. April 28, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
- ^ "Dog Sets World Record". The Spokesman Review. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1998) April edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Greyhound Racing in the United States | GREY2K USA Worldwide". www.grey2kusa.org. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Association of Racing Commissioners International Factual Status of Greyhound Racing in the U.S." www.arci.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ "Live Racing". Birmingham greyhound Racecourse.
- ^ "As greyhound racing declines nationwide, the Birmingham Race Course is in 'survival mode". AL.com. July 27, 2014.
- ^ "Greyhound Racing". Arizona Department of Gaming Division of Racing.
- ^ "Florida votes end to greyhound racing; Arkansas track got a new lifeline". Arkansas Times. November 7, 2018.
- ^ "OPINION | REX NELSON: The last dog race". Arkansas Online. December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "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. May 15, 2022.
- ^ Schaden, Marco (September 30, 2022). "A greyhound track without greyhounds featuring slot machines that aren't slots". The Wichita Beacon. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- ^ "New Hampshire Ends Live Greyhound Racing; Will Florida Follow Suit?". Broward Palm Beach New Times.
- ^ "DOG RACING OPENS TONIGHT; Nassau Kennel Club to Launch 90Day Meeting at Mineola". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "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. January 11, 2018.
- ^ "Dairyland Greyhound Park". Greyhound Racing.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.