Florida Bans Dog Racing

Centuries of tradition at an end

For decades, Florida was considered the mecca of dog racing. This era has come to an end since January, as the sunshine state has officially banned dog racing. This was preceded by a vote by residents two years ago, with an overwhelming majority voting for the ban from 2021. Consequently, the so-called Amendment 13 was enacted, which, at least in Florida, means the death knell for the centuries-old US sport.

With Florida's exit from the greyhound racing business comes the permanent closure of 11 racetracks. There are only four other slopes left in the USA, located in the states of West Virginia, Arkansas and Iowa. When Amendment 13 was passed in 2018, there were still 17 dog tracks. Routes in Texas and Alabama also ceased operations at the beginning of the year.

The last race in Florida took place on New Year's Eve at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. The clock struck midnight as greyhound Bug Brush crossed the finish line as the winner, after which the start boxes closed forever. But not only in Florida, but also in other states, slumps in sales and the commitment of greyhound protectors are ensuring that dog racing is on the verge of extinction across the US.

The sighthound or greyhound was originally used for small game hunting - especially in the USA, Australia, Portugal, Ireland, Russia and Pakistan, the animals gained a legendary reputation for hare hunting. In Great Britain, greyhounds have been tested for speed and fitness since 2005, and hunting in this form has been prohibited there since 2004. Today's breeds bred for speed can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h and are therefore the undisputed stars of dog racing. The greyhound is also popular as a family dog; it is considered calm and easy to care for.

Is dog racing on the verge of extinction?

This is the opinion of Kate MacFall, director of the Humane Society of Florida. She spoke to NBC News about her state's role in the decline of greyhound racing. Florida was once the delta and the base of dog racing and had by far the most tracks. However, the industry is now well past its peak and no longer up to date. The ban is therefore the next logical step.

Jim Gartland, managing director of the dog racing industry umbrella organization (National Greyhound Association, NGA), disagrees. The day when greyhounds will no longer run in the USA is still far away. While it is likely that the industry will come to a standstill, there will still be dog racing outside of Florida for at least another five or 10 years.

Gartland himself was present at the last race at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. The closure of the club hurt, said the NGA boss. After Bug Brush and seven other greyhounds completed the 545-yard race and Frank Sinatra's timeless hit My Way played, an 88-year story came to an end. He hates thinking about it, they say expression.

In contrast to Gartland, Patrick Rooney Jr. President of the Palm Beach Kennel Club, sees the end of dog racing in the foreseeable future. It is no secret that revenue from racing has been declining for years. This is also made clear by the dismantling of racetracks: in the late 1980s, more than 60 tracks were still in operation in the USA. These existed not only in the named states, but also in Connecticut, Colorado, Arizona, Wisconsin, Idaho, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont and New Mexico.

Engagement of animal rights activists successful

According to Rooney, the end of dog racing is primarily due to the commitment of animal rights activists. A rethink has taken place in society and views on animal rights have changed significantly. Since the dogs often have to live in cramped quarters and suffer from difficult working conditions, the sport is doomed to extinction.

Rooney continued that it was difficult for commercial attractions that had an animal component to survive in the new society. The same development can now also be seen in horse racing and rodeo. The pioneering event was the end of the circus industry. Overall, society would have become more sensitive to the feelings of animals and to the conditions in which they are kept.

With Florida's ban, there are dog racing laws in 41 states, according to Christine Dorchak, co-founder of the anti-racing group GREY2K. However, they are not entirely satisfied with the almost comatose state of the sport. The group is currently pushing for a ban at the federal level. Numerous MPs would support the demand. But even without the organizations' work, dog racing has been losing revenue for years. Since 2011, the industry's total sales have fallen by more than half.