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Cover Stories Fall/Winter 2004 70 Years of Greyhound Racing Ends Abruptly at Oregon's Multnomah Greyhound Park Portland: Magna Entertainment Corp. issued a press release Dec. 23, 2004 announcing that it does not intend to renew its lease of Multnomah Greyhound Park when it expires Dec. 31. Magna has operated Multnomah since it purchased the operating rights for the dog track in October 2001. The press release stated that as a result of Magna's decision "there will be no further greyhound racing at the Multnomah facility." The track opened in 1933. Magna's president and CEO Jim McAlpine stated: "We entered the Oregon market three years ago with the expectation that we could help the Oregon racing industry achieve substantially improved operating results. Since that time, however, the competitive pressures on the racing industry have continued to mount. Unfortunately, at this point we don't believe the Oregon industry can support both greyhound racing and horse racing." Multnomah's wagering handle fell by more than 50 percent between 1995 and 2002, from $25 million to $11 million. Competition for the wagering dollar from numerous venues was cited as a factor leading to the company's decision. Chris Dragone, the track's general manager, said, "We are disappointed to shut down Multnomah Greyhound Park, but have no alternative given the competitive pressure we face." Dragone said management will continue to work with the Oregon Greyhound Association to keep their adoption kennel open until all of the currently retired Oregon greyhounds have found a home. Toronto-based Magna owns or operates 13 horse tracks in the United States, including Portland Meadows, which it will continue to operate. In an editorial opinion published Dec. 28, The Oregonian stated, in part, "Last week's abrupt shuttering of Multnomah Greyhound Park wasn't a kind or gentle way to end 70 years of dog racing in Oregon. Now the breeders, handlers and others associated with the dog track are about to get a small taste of what happens when you're not fast enough to keep up any longer. "Animal rights groups plan to urge the Oregon Legislature to ban greyhound racing, just as Idaho, Washington and Nevada have done in recent years. That seems unnecessary. A Magna Entertainment lawyer concedes, 'There's not a long-term future in greyhound racing.' "For the dogs, there never was."
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