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STATE-BY-STATE
NEWS UPDATE May-Oct. 2005: IOWA The incident occurred when
trainer Jeff Gubbels inadvertently placed two greyhounds, MG Pawnee Pride
and RJ's Garrett, in the same cage before going outside to exercise other
dogs. Gubbels returned five to 10 minutes later and found MG Pawnee Pride
on his side, breathing heavily. Gubbels told the board of stewards he
doused the injured greyhound with water, gave him water to drink and returned
him to a cage. Pawnee Pride, who did not receive veterinary care after
the incident, died a short while later. Dubuque: After a day of contentious negotiations, the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA), the nonprofit license holder for the Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino, June 1 approved a deal with the Diamond Jo Casino that will expand gambling options at the racetrack casino. Under terms of the deal, the Diamond Jo floating casino grants the Dubuque track and casino the right to operate table games such as blackjack and poker. In return, the track will pay the Diamond Jo 33 cents for every dollar the Diamond Jo loses on table games for the next 31 months. In other news, the DRA in August approved an economic impact study of the state's greyhound industry, a joint effort with the operator of the Bluffs Run Casino in Council Bluffs. Bruce Wentworth, general manager of the Dubuque track, said, "The dollars going to purses in the past five years have just skyrocketed," Wentworth said of the payments to greyhound kennels. "Subsidy is probably more of an appropriate term," he said. "I think it's out of balance." The pari-mutuel side of Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino recorded a net loss of $873,000 in 2004. When completed, the economic
impact study could provide the impetus for track owners to seek legislative
intervention. Wentworth said that could come in the form of setting "reasonable"
purse limits, or possibly revisiting the Iowa pari-mutuel statutes that
require racetracks to continue live dog racing alongside their slot machine
operation. Waterloo: Following six months of study of ten statewide casino proposals, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted 4-1 May 11 to approve only four new gambling licenses. Three competing casino proposals were under consideration for the Waterloo-Cedar Valley area - the Isle of Capri, the Cedar Landing Hotel and Casino, and a combined casino and dog-racing facility proposed by the National Cattle Congress (NCC) at the defunct dog track to be called the Black Hawk County Greyhound Park and Casino. Of those three competing proposals, the commission selected the Isle of Capri, a floating casino and 200-room hotel project to be built on the south side of Waterloo proposed by the nonprofit Black Hawk County Gaming Association. Less than a month after its failed bid for a casino license, the NCC asked the gaming commission to approve a pari-mutuel license to resume dog racing at the closed track. The commission ruled Sept. 8 that the NCC has no right to its old license, dismissing the group's argument that its license has never been revoked and should thereby be reinstated. Commission member Mike Mahaffey said licenses are only issued for three-year periods. The NCC appealed the decision, but the commission Oct. 13 again denied the group's license application. The NCC, represented by attorney Dave Nagle, plans to challenge the commission's decision in court. "This fight isn't over," he said. The group has 30 days to file a lawsuit and also plans to file applications within the next few months for new racing and casino licenses. Waterloo Greyhound Park ceased
live racing in the spring of 1994, but remained open for simulcasting
until it closed in 1996. MASSACHUSETTS Rep. Daniel Bosley, D-North Adams, chairman of the House Economic Development Committee, said he didn't think the bill would pass in the House. Even if the measure passed the House, it is unlikely that it could sustain a veto from Gov. Mitt Romney, who has gone on record stating he would veto any attempt to expand gambling in Massachusetts. Romney, who once favored expanded
gambling, recently reversed his position on the issue. Democrats accuse
him of flip-flopping to gain the support of conservative, out-of-state
Republican groups as he explores a bid for the presidency. A spokesman
for Romney said the governor's position would not change, even if a bill
was needed to keep the tracks alive. NEW HAMPSHIRE "This decision came after much discussion, consideration and advice from the consultants and the accountants," said Edward Keelan, the president of Yankee Greyhound Racing, which operates the track. "The live handle has been in decline at the park for several years due to expanded gambling opportunities in neighboring states." Keelan said he plans to apply for 120 live racing dates for 2006. The state requires tracks to conduct at least 100 days of live racing a year. Keelan also owns the now-closed Plainfield, Connecticut dog track. Paul Kelley, executive director
of the New Hampshire Pari-Mutuel Commission, said he was not surprised
by the cutback, calling the move "a sign of the times." Kelley
said Seabrook is not alone in reducing live racing, noting that Hinsdale
Greyhound Park went from 310 racing days in 2004 to 140 this year. Hinsdale
also operated year-round since it opened in 1973. OREGON Toronto-based Magna Entertainment Corp. operated the track for several years but declining revenue forced the company to cancel live racing in December 2004. McCain said the track used to have 24-hour security guards, but when Magna pulled out, the security guards went with the company. Art McFadden, the track's owner, said he has increased security measures and is considering adding more. "Eventually I'm going to list it for sale," McFadden said. Dick Gage, president of the
Oregon Greyhound Association, who still manages the adoption kennel at
the track, said, "We're in and out every day, but most of this has
been happening at night," Gage said. Forty-two greyhounds remain
in the kennels awaiting adoption.
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