State-by-State Updates Summer 2000

Alabama
Birmingham: Police investigating the electrocution of a racing greyhound following a race at the Birmingham Race Course on Wednesday, June 21, have ruled the death accidental.
Kristin Falls, 19, who witnessed the gruesome event, complained to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society the next day. Society officials turned the investigation over to Birmingham Police animal cruelty investigator Dana Johnston.
The accident occurred after the 14th race when the mechanical lure failed to retract. Power to the electrified rail is normally cut after a race, but since the dogs were still on the field, the lure operator kept the mechanical rabbit in motion to prevent the dogs from running into it. By then, the No. 3 dog, Randad, had climbed over the rail.
After a brief investigation, Johnston concluded that the 2-year-old white and red male was electrocuted before the returning lure struck him. Eyewitness accounts differ. According to Falls boyfriend. Will Berkmeier, the race ended but the lure continued around the track with the dogs behind it. Randad became trapped inside the rail. "He was obviously in pain," Berkmeier said. The trapped dog howled until he was struck by the lure, then "the shrieking stopped," he said.
Falls said that as the scene unfolded, the winners of the race were announced. "They didn't care about alive creature. They just want their money," she said. Birmingham Race Course officials could not be reached for comment.

Source: The Birmingham News: Benjamin Niolet

Arizona
Phoenix: According to a ruling by the Board of Stewards at Phoenix Greyhound Park dated May 21, kennel owner Sherry Braam was fined $500 "for failing to ensure that the health and welfare of the greyhounds housed at her kennel facility were met. This allowed some of the greyhounds to become seriously malnourished."
Braam had allowed another kennel owner, Arthur Craney, to house some of his dogs at her facility. The Board of Stewards also fined Craney $500 and suspended him from all privileges for 60 days. In addition, the board referred Craney to the director of the Arizona Department of Racing (ADOR) with the recommendation that his license be revoked. As of late June, no final disposition had been reached. According to Steve Lump, ADOR's chief investigator, the dogs are now being properly fed and their conditions have improved.

Sources: ADOR Stewart's Rulings #25 and #26

Colorado
Denver: According to a Denver Rocky Mountain News survey, Coloradans wagered $1.3 billion last year on casinos, lottery tickets, racetracks, and bingo. Although the amount of money spent on legalized gambling has increased 11 .6 percent in the last five years, most of the increase came from increased gambling at casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek.
Wagering at the state's racetracks — four dog tracks and one horse track — ranked third in the survey at $244.5 million, slightly above fourth-ranked bingo at $207.9 million. Colorado voters will decide in November whether or not to join the 20-state Powerball Lottery.
Mile High Greyhound Park in Commerce City, just outside of Denver, faces additional competition since Denver is now considered to be the nation's hot spot for football, basketball, and hockey. "It's kind of frustrating because you're seeing all these people move into the state and we're not seeing an increase," said Steve Rose, general manager of the 51-year old track.
"We've spent more than $5 million in the last five or so years. We have to do that just to be competitive with the people somewhat still interested in us," Rose said. "Then you consider the onslaught of the lottery and casinos, and we've really taken a hit."
According to Michael Holton, former director of racing at the track. Mile High's average daily mutuel handle was $303,684 in 1999. In 1982, the average daily handle was $617,000. Holton left Mile High to manage the reopened Camptown track in Kansas.
Mile High does not disclose its attendance figures. Holton said there are several theories on that. "One, you lie. Two, you just don't announce it. There's another theory, the 'downward spiral theory.' I've seen it happen at other tracks. People see the attendance figures, and they know it's going down, down, down ... You have to stop the spiral."

Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News: Clay Latimer, John C. Ensslin

Connecticut
Bridgeport: Shoreline Star Greyhound Park and Simulcast Complex opened Friday, May 12, for a six-month live racing season which is expected to end Oct. 15. The track will run three matinees and four evening performances a week. Seven hundred racing dogs are currently housed in Shoreline's off-track kennel compound.
The following day, more than 50 greyhound advocates from throughout the Northeast participated in a two-hour rally held at Shoreline's entrance. One participant, David Cohen, came from Montreal, Canada to take part in the rally.
The event, organized by Lindsay Green. New York representative of the Greyhound Protection League (GPL), and Sheila Havens, New Jersey GPL representative, was held to educate the public about the cruel and inhumane realities of greyhound racing.
Last year, more than 250 greyhounds were left behind when the abbreviated season ended Oct. 3. According to an informed source, it took nearly six months for Shoreline to place the dogs into homes through its adoption program. Pups Without Partners.

Source: Connecticut Post: Bill McDonald

Plainfield: Unionized workers at Plainfield Greyhound Park rejected a three-year contract offer April 22 and planned to set a strike deadline within weeks. Meanwhile, both parties have agreed to mediation.
At issue are raises for nearly 70 employees, including tellers, leadouts, and maintenance workers. The rejected contract offered hourly wages ranging from $8.30 to $15.25. "This package is the most lucrative offer to mutual clerks in New England, including the race books at the neighboring casinos," said Jim Capiola, Plainfield's general manager.
Greg Kotecki, a representative of the Service Employees International Union, however, called some of the contract provisions ridiculous, such as forbidding dyed or highlighted hair, dictating skirt lengths, and strongly encouraging the use of deodorant. "What are we, back in parochial school?" Kotecki asked.

Source: The Associated Press

Florida
Longwood: Owners of the Sanford Orlando Kennel Club have invested $2 million in a new clubhouse and a 220-seat restaurant scheduled to open this summer. The seasonal track has a live racing season from Nov. 1 through May 2, but with the new restaurant, the track will remain open year-long for simulcasting. The restaurant will have 16 big-screen televisions and each booth will have its own television.
"We have to do something to try and get the customers back," director of racing Tom Bowersox said. "We just cannot sit around and do nothing."
At its peak in 1984, the Longwood track took in more than $560,000 in bets a night. Today, an average nightly handle rarely reaches $200,000. Daily attendance has dropped from thousands to just a few hundred, most of them retirees.

Source: The Orlando Sentinel: Will Wellons

Kansas
Frontenac: Camptown Greyhound Park reopened for simulcasting June 9 but the start of live racing, originally scheduled for July 1, has been delayed until Aug. 4. Camptown will operate year-round.
Phil Ruffin, owner of Wichita Greyhound Park, bought the defunct Camptown track last October. Kip Keefer, executive manager for both the Wichita and Camptown tracks, estimates that Ruffin invested $500,000 in refurbishing the grandstand building and racetrack surface.
"We had to start completely over with the racetrack itself," Keefer said. "There were literally trees growing through the racetrack surface." Camptown, built at a cost of $14 million, opened in May 1995 and closed six months later after losing $250,000 a month.

Source: The Morning Sun: Jack Dimond