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Breaking News June 30, 2009
Concord, New Hampshire: The state’s two remaining greyhound tracks
won permission yesterday to drop live racing, effective immediately. Simulcast wagering will continue at the Lodge
at Belmont and Seabrook Greyhound
Park. Paul Kelley, director of the state Racing and
Charitable Gaming Commission, said, “I think the handwriting was on the wall,
since the discussion had gone on for some time. This was not unexpected.” Rick Newman, who represents the Belmont track, said the
decision was a financial one. “It costs
a lot more money to run live racing than we get from it.” The state’s third dog track, Hinsdale Greyhound Park,
closed its doors December 15, 2008.
Source: Union Leader: Tom Fahey, State House Bureau
Chief
Breaking News June 23, 2009
Providence,
Rhode Island:
Overwhelmed by more than a half-billion dollars in debt, BLB Investors
LLC, the consortium that owns theTwin
River greyhound track and slots parlor
inLincoln,
filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection early this morning in U.S.
Bankruptcy Court. A restructuring
agreement outlined in court papers would wipe out roughly $290 million in debt
while giving the lenders the right to find a new operator. The agreement is based on legislative approval
of 24-hour gaming and permission to discontinue greyhound racing at the track,
which the company says is costing $10 million a year.
At a press conference held this
afternoon at the State House, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri said, “It is business as
usual atTwin River; the facility is open, offering
patrons gaming, dining and entertainment.
Further, I can also assure that my administration is doing everything
necessary to protect the critical revenue source fromTwin River.” Twin
River’s 4,751 video slot
machines generate more than $240 million a year in taxes for the state.
Sources: Providence
Journal: Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau; Associated Press;Providence Business News;
ABC TV6
Breaking News June 4, 2009
Tucson Weekly
Tax Haven
by Tim
Vanderpool
Breaking News May
29, 2009
Tucson,Arizona: A fire broke out atTucson Greyhound
Park Thursday evening at
7:45 pm, prompting the evacuation of 30 employees and 20 patrons. A race was in
progress at the time, but no greyhounds were injured. Between 80 and 90 greyhounds in a holding
area near the track were evacuated to a safe location as a precaution.
Thirty-five firefighters from South Tucson andTucson battled the blaze that
started in the enclosed neon-lit tower on the southwest side of the main
building. Firefighters could not get
inside the heavily stuccoed tower to attack the flames until the 200-foot high
tower partially collapsed. Investigators
determined an electrical problem in the tower’s neon lighting system caused the
fire and estimated losses at $1 million.
Source: Arizona
Daily Star: Enric Volante, Jamar Younger; KOLD TV13: J.D Wallace, Christopher
Francis; KVOA TV4; Associated Press
Breaking News May
20, 2009
Scenes from the life of a racing greyhound.
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