The End of Greyhound Racing, Institutionalized Cruelty is Near

Over the last three decades, the greyhound racing industry has been in a steep decline due to competition from other forms of gambling and the ever-growing public awareness that there's an ugly and inhumane underside to the industry. Many tracks closed-up shop or ended live greyhound racing years ago.

In 2018, Animal Wellness Action joined with greyhound protection group GREY2K USAand worked together to phase out commercial dog racing in Florida by championing a greyhound ballot measure. It passed by more than a two to one in a statewide vote, winning by enormous margins in the neighboring Florida panhandle. Phasing out two-thirds of the dog tracks left in America, the measure was endorsed by folks on both sides of the political spectrum, including Lara Trump, former Attorney General Pam Bondi, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee – all of whom joined us to eliminate what they saw not only as animal cruelty but as a waste of hard-earned taxpayer dollars propping up a shady enterprise.

In 2019, Delaware North, the owner of Southland Casino in West Memphis – the last remaining dog track in Arkansas – announced its plans to end greyhound racing at the track by the end of 2022.

And in April 2020, the Birmingham, Alabama, racetrack announced that live greyhound racing would be shuttered – marking the sunset of this archaic and abusive enterprise at the last operating track in the state. The two remaining greyhound tracks in Texas ended live greyhound racing in 2020 as well.

In 2021, Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque, the last remaining track in the state, announced it would be closing and began handing down layoffs last week, preparing for the park’s closure in May.

The fact is, very few people want to watch greyhound racing, which will soon cease in 49 of 50 states. Over the past few decades, the amount wagered on greyhound racing has drastically declined, and regulatory costs across the country have exceeded the pittance that's been dribbling into state coffers.

On the global stage, greyhound tracks like Belle Vue Stadium in the United Kingdom are closing as well. According to the Manchester Evening News, “…there is no longer a business case to support the ongoing operation of the stadium.”

As a business, greyhound racing is a heap of dog mess. On some days, the dogs running at tracks even outnumber the folks in the stands.

But for animal lovers, ending greyhound racing is about the welfare and protection of man's best friend. Dogs shouldn't be forced to run for human entertainment and the quick thrill of gambling to make a few bucks. They shouldn't be kept in the warehouse-style kennels in rows of stacked metal cages, barely large enough for them to stand up or turn, in which their trainers confine them for to 20 hours or more a day. And they shouldn't be trained to chase and kill live rabbits and hares to make them run faster, as GREY2K USA's investigation revealed. It's an enterprise whose time has passed.

The last two tracks in the U.S. still on course to continue operating are both located in West Virginia and owned by the same Delaware North that shuttered the track in Arkansas. But the company can’t just close them on their own because of a state law that requires their continued operation. And while the State Legislature passed a measure to repeal the requirement, unfortunately Governor Jim Justice vetoed it.

That’s why U.S. Reps. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), introduced the Greyhound Protection Act, H.R. 3335. The bill is approaching 100 cosponsors and would prohibit the use of wire communications for gambling on live commercial greyhound racing and open field coursing events, and prohibit the transport of greyhounds, rabbits, and hares in interstate and foreign commerce in furtherance of these activities. And the endorsements for the bill are astounding as well, with more than 250 animal organizations, rescues, and anti-gambling groups in support.

In our modern-day society, Americans won't continue to tolerate this archaic enterprise and we're pressing for Congress to take action and wipe out greyhound racing for good. Call your Members of Congress at 202-225-3121 and ask them to cosponsor and pass the Greyhound Protection Act.

Marty Irby is the executive director at Animal Wellness Action in Washington, D.C., who was named one of The Hill's Top Lobbyists for 2019, 2020, and 2021 and was honored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II for his work to protect animals. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @MartyIrby.