Phoenix Greyhound Park Injury List – July 2008

It’s a good thing that Phoenix Greyhound Park closed Dec. 19, 2009 and let’s hope and pray that it never reopens.Why?

According to injury reports which are a matter of public record, in July 2008, 81 dogs were injured, sick, or lame. Here’s the list. You can see it for yourself. The dogs’ names are bolded as are particularly striking comments written by track kennel operators, handlers, or trainers. Text in italics are blogger’s comments.

One of the many problems associated with Arizona greyhound racing is that dogs that are on the injury list 2008, go on to race and some are still racing in 2009 and 2010 at the other dog track in South Tucson. Another problem associated with Arizona greyhound racing is that this “sport” is supposed to be regulated by the state but very little  time and effort is placed on greyhound welfare. If it was, dogs wouldn’t be racing in 100+ degrees. It’s all about the money and the bettor, not greyhound welfare.

If I were the Arizona director of racing, the injury report would be completed in a cognizant manner not with minimal to no information. I would want to know why information was “not provided” so many times.  I’d want to clear up the discrepancies as to which side of the body the poor greyhound was injured. If greyhound welfare was of great importance to the state of Arizona, wouldn’t it be important to know why 5 dogs were injured or too sick or too lame on July 5? Someone really concerned about greyhound welfare would have the problem fixed by July 6.

As you can see, far too many dogs were injured July 2008 at Phoenix Greyhound Park.

DATE/ DOG NAME/ TRACK INJURY/ TYPE INJURY/ LOCATION/ TREATMENT/ RECOVERY TIME NOTES

07/01/08 BF Get fracture right hock (not provided) “finished” “No vet on track premises – need vet to be at the track for morning schooling”.

07/01/08 CDC Buddy fracture left hock splint, medication (not provided) (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: left vs right respectively).

07/01/08 Charlie (not provided) left quarter bone (not provided) 6 weeks

07/01/08 Goldie (not provided) left quarter bone (not provided) (not provided) (Blogger’s note: We don’t know if not provided means no treatment was provided.)

07/03/08 Backseat Rhythm fracture right hock splint, medication career ending

07/04/08 Double Squeeze sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “Vomiting several times food + bile”

(Blogger’s note: In one day 5 dogs fractured, sprained, and became lame. Why?)

07/05/08 Action Of The Day fracture right hock (not provided) N/A “retired”; “forced into rail far turn, bounced off and planted hard on R.R. leg, broke hock/tore ligaments in joint” (Blogger’s note: Holy Hell!)

07/05/08 Lazy K Bogart sprain left ankle (not provided) (not provided)

07/05/08 Phoenix Arbee fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/05/08 Savvy Macho lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/05/08 UCME Mango Tango lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/06/08 Demello sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: right vs left respectively)

07/06/08 Roman Az Pullo lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/07/08 KB’s Hot To Trot x fracture right stopper bone (not provided) “finished”

07/07/08 Phat Az Carmen pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/09/08 Bella Corona fracture quarter bone (not provided) (not provided)

07/09/08 Starz J Leo (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (not provided)

07/10/08 Bella BB Jessica sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/10/08 Kay Peyote Pearl pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/10/08 Midnight Secret lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/10/08 Shaker N A Mover cramp “all over” (not provided) 1 week “should be fine with a brief rest”

07/10/08 Sol Johann pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/11/08 BC’s Another Chance fracture left toe (not provided) (not provided)

07/11/08 Zero Point Zero fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/14/08 Like Royalty fracture right stopper bone, right carpus splint, medication career ending

07/14/08 Midnight Secret lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/15/08 Doin Diddily tear right leg muscle (not provided) career ending

07/16/08 RLM’s Winter tear right leg muscle (not provided) (not provided) (Blogger’s note: See 7/25.)

07/16/08 Still Smokin fracture right hock splint (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/16/08 Stress Reducer sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/17/08 Algoa Sassy laceration left foot (not provided) 2 weeks

07/17/08 Club Congress laceration right foot (not provided) 1 month

07/17/08 Deal Flush pulled muscle right leg (not provided) 8-10 weeks

07/17/08 Oxbow Daffodil dropped muscle right leg (not provided) 4-6 weeks (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: right vs. left respectively)

(Blogger’s note: On July 18, 2008, bad things including one euthanasia happened to TEN greyhounds at PGP.)

07/18/08 BC Boogity Belle pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/18/08 BC Maximum Heat fracture right toe (not provided) 2 months

07/18/08 BC Moon River (not provided) right quarter bone (not provided) 2 months “Track – dry places, wet places, real wet places”

07/18/08 Bella Raheng fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/18/08 Big Ball Burro sprain left toe (not provided) 1 month

07/18/08 Line (not provided) left quarter bone (not provided) 6 weeks

07/18/08 RLM’s Windy dislocation left toe (not provided) 3 months (discrepancy between Mishap Report and Suspension List on which side injured: left vs right respectively)

07/18/08 TNJ Skyler fracture right tarsus euthanasia died (From Suspension List)

07/18/08 Top Of The Rock sprain right ankle (not provided) “finished”

07/18/08 WJS Lester (not provided) metatarsal (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/20/08 Greyt Onyx sprain right hock (not provided) 1 month

07/20/08 Ucme Cry N Out sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/21/08 Bella Jessie fracture right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/21/08 Get Out Of Town fracture hock (not provided) career ending

07/21/08 Greyt Galaga sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/22/08 Greyt Donkeykong sprain right hock (not provided) 1 month

07/24/08 Astar Clayton tear left leg muscle (not provided) (not provided)

07/24/08 BC Shesa Jewel fracture right ankle (not provided) “2 months, if at all” “I lost count of how many dogs I’ve crippled in the last 2 weeks” (Blogger’s note: “crippled” and I wonder why this so-called sport exists. Don’t you?)

07/25/08 Bella Corseus fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/25/08 Bella Ioniz pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/25/08 MRL Platinum pulled muscle right leg (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/25/08 RLM’s Winter lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) (Blogger’s note: This hound was injured on 7/16/08 with a tear in the right leg muscle. Why is the dog being forced to race again so soon?)

07/26/08 Bella BB Oscar sprain right hock (not provided) N/A

07/26/08 Figs UCME Nomoto lame (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/26/08 Get Out Of Town luxation right hock (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/26/08 Grumpy Malone tear right leg muscle (not provided) “2 months, if I’m lucky”

07/26/08 Mark Quad Pro sprain groin, hip (not provided) 1 month

(Blogger’s note: On July 28, 2008 NINE greyhounds were injured, sick or lame. WTF? What entity allows too many injuries to happen on one night? So many injuries all month. Can’t the problem be fixed way before month end?)

07/28/08 Bella Gallery laceration right leg (not provided) (not provided)

07/28/08 Boc’s Saturn x abrasion left foot (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “LR under foot foreign body ulcer causing lots of pain on palpation”

07/28/08 Djays Mac Ten tear left shoulder muscle (not provided) 1 1/2 months

07/28/08 Gawain sprain right shoulder (not provided) 2 months

07/28/08 On Your Mark Go fracture right leg (not provided) 3 months (Blogger’s note: Is this dog going to race again in 3 months after a right leg fracture?)

07/28/08 Phoenix Cyclone sick (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/28/08 That’s Just It sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/28/08 Vegas Dream sprain right hock (not provided) 2 months

07/28/08 WWW Queen Latifa dislocation right toe (not provided) (not provided)

(Blogger’s note: Three dogs fractured their right hock plus two other injuries on July 29. Weren’t enough hurt on July 28?)

07/29/08 Bella Azcarate fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/29/08 Bella BB Oscar fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/29/08 Bella Globalized fracture right hock (not provided) (not provided)

07/29/08 Hudson Brawl tear right shoulder muscle (not provided) 1 1/2 months

07/29/08 Phoenix Aztec laceration right leg (not provided) (not provided) “Gash so deep you can see his bone”

07/30/08 Multi Tasking fracture right hock splint, wrap, medication 6 months (Blogger’s note: Is this hound going to race again after a right hock fracture?)

07/30/08 Vapor Spray laceration right leg wrap, medication (not provided) (From Suspension List)

07/31/08 BC Color Me Good (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “Judges” scratch “Pulled up”

07/31/08 BC Maeken Noise (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (not provided) (From Suspension List) “Judges” scratch “Pulled up”

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhound Injury, Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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This is for the man who has everything or perhaps lost everything if he is a serious bettor and gambling addict.

And if the thong isn’t your style, there are boxer shorts.

This sounds like a bad marketing idea to me.

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money by NoMoreRacing
2 Comments »

16 AZ greyhounds sick, lame or injured from May 1 through May 7, 2008

5/01/08 – Phoenix – Coldwater Maahs - lame, left leg

Greyhound-Data says the last race was March 7, 2008 which obviously is incorrect because the dog was injured on May 1, 2008 according to the injury report. I don’t know how the racing industry can say 90 percent of their dogs get adopted because they can’t even keep good records of who is racing and when they do or don’t stop. What happened to Coldwater Maahs?

5/01/08 – Phoenix -  DB Another Chance - sick – How? What?

According to Greyhound-Data, DB last raced 12/19/09, the last night of racing at PGP. Is this correct? I seem to have seen his name recently when I was browsing TGP’s racing schedule. How do I remember? I’m a fan of DB Cooper. I’m hoping DB Cooper had another chance too.  So what happened to DB Another Chance?  You Tucson kennel people reading this; email me and let me know. Or if your rescue group saved this dog, please let me know.

5/01/08 – Phoenix - KB’s Hot to Trot – lame, not provided

According to Greyhound-Data her last race was 3/06/08 which is wrong again. This dog kept on racing and was injured on May 1, 2008. Why isn’t Greyhound-Data’s records correct? What happened to this dog?

5/02/08 – Phoenix - BC Billy Boy - lame, right leg

Poor Billy raced 82 times. The greyhound data site has a big space of absence from March 8, 2008 to Feb 23, 2009 and then another absence to July 28, 2009. Billy was obviously racing on May 2, 2008 but greyhound-data has not recorded it. After July 28, 2009 Billy only raced twice. What happened to BC Billy Boy?

5/03/08 - Phoenix - Brenda K – sprain, right hock

Here’s another troubling entry. Brenda K was injured on May 3, 2008. She sprained her right hock but it’s not listed on the Greyhound-Data site. Why not? There is nothing listed from March 2008 to Jan 2009. This poor dog continues to limp along running for her life from Phoenix to Southland to VictoryLand. What happened to Brenda K?

5/03/08 – Phoenix - Gunner – fracture, right ankle,  3 months recovery time

Poor Gunner fractured his right ankle. Raise your hand if you think a fractured right ankle should be a career ending injury. Why would this dog continue to race? According to the injury report he was injured again only three months later – August 6, 2008. A dog with a fractured ankle has 3 months recovery time and then has to run again. This is the problem with greyhound racing. Dogs are used and reused, lame or not. Does the racing industry know the difference between right vs. wrong? Where is Gunner now? Did Gunner finally find a loving forever home or not?

5/03/08 - Phoenix -   Phat Az – something happened to Phat’s left foot

Nobody bothered to complete the injury report info as to the full name; so much for AZ state oversight and regulation; many dogs’ name begin with Phat Az. Nobody cared enough about this dog to completely fill out the injury report.

5/03/08 – Tucson -  Big Epistle -  sprain, left hock, ankle

Lucky for the Big Epistle, this was a career-ending injury and he was adopted through Greyhounds of the Verde Valley.

5/05/08 – Phoenix - Reward Becky -   lame, right foot

Once again the Greyhound-Data lists her last race as 3/06/08 but the injury report knows better. What good is the industry-driven Greyhound Data if it’s frequently wrong? It mirrors the overall racing industry. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! What happened to Reward Becky?

5/06/08 – Phoenix -   Astar Clayton -   lame, not provided

Greyhound-Data lists last race as 3/07/08. According to the injury report not only was he injured on May 6 but injured again July 24 with a tear in left leg muscle. Did this end his career? Dog, I hope so but who knows how these dogs are used and misused?  What happened to Astar Clayton?

5/06/08 – Phoenix  - CL Gotta Eat – fracture, left hock

Was this a career-ending injury? Hopefully no cruel trainer made CL run again with a fractured left hock. The Greyhound-Data site says CL last raced 11/17/07 in Tucson. Wrong again!  What happened to CL Gotta Eat?

5/06/08 – Phoenix -  Ingenious -   lame, right leg

How many times does a dog have to be injured or reported as lame before the dog is retired? Not only was Ingenious’ right leg lame on May 6 but injured again on October 4, something happened (info not provided) once again the right leg, and then lame again on October 16, same leg.  Greyhound Data lists this greyhound’s last race on June 3, 2009. Is that right? Greyhound Data’s races dates differ from the injury report. What happened to Ingenious?

5/06/08 -  Phoenix  - JP’s Squareshot -  sick, not provided – How was it sick?

Who rescued this dog?

5/06/08 – Phoenix -  Phat Az Carmen -   lame, right leg

Greyhound-Data once again lists Phat Az Carmen’s last race 4/24/08 but her right leg became lame on May 6, 2008. Fortunately, Carmen was adopted through AZ Greyhound Rescue.

5/06/08 – Phoenix -  Queen Victoria -  sprain, right hock

What happened to Queen Victoria?

5/07/08 – Tucson -    Valley Chamo -   tear, right ankle, ligament

This was a career-ending injury. What happened to Valley Chamo?

Thank dog Phoenix Greyhound Park closed and will soon be a soccer field. Two legged athletes may be injured during the game but four legged greyhounds won’t become lame and fracture their hocks and to not be accounted for.

Use these links as reference:

Greyhound-Data

2008 Arizona Greyhound Injury Report at Phoenix Greyhound Park & Tucson Greyhound Park (adobe acrobat required)

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhound Injury by NoMoreRacing
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Update: Prop 100 passed! Racino lobbyists, promoters, and adoption groups begging their followers to vote no and to write their legislators endorsing racinos — you lose!

Arizona is in turmoil and according to one savvy female legislator, “the laughing stock of the nation” because of SB 1070, the racial profiling bill/anti illegal immigrant bill.

This reminds me of when 49 states supported Martin Luther King Day as a U.S. holiday but Arizona did not. That was a different kind of discrimination.

Arizona has a governor who graduated from a junior college and is calling the shots. But, hey, at least she’s not a wrestler (Minnesota) or body building movie star (Calif.). A certification in radiological technologist has got to be worth something on the career path to governor, right?

Then there’s the U.S. Rep. from Arizona who is telling the world to boycott the state and the boycotts are happening. The tourism bureau is not happy about that.

Arizona has approximately 95,000 state employees and they are all being urged to support proposition 100 – the temporary 1 cent tax increase. Teachers and college students and social service agencies are all urging we support the temporary 1 cent tax increase, proposition 100.

Finally, I agree with something that the Arizona Department of Racing is advocating – they are urging their employees and the people and entities they regulate to vote a resounding YES on proposition 100. At the recent April ADOR meeting, the department of racing director said his department and employees were in jeopardy if proposition 100 didn’t pass.

Apparently one greyhound rescue group in Phoenix didn’t get that memo because for months, they have been advocating for people to contact their legislators and vote in favor of the racino issue which by the way sunk like the Titanic in this legislature.

In their April 2010 newsletter sent to their email list, they say:

The countdown is now centered on the May 19th (it’s May 18) Sales Tax initiative and I would encourage you to vote “NO”. Under other circumstances I might support a sales tax increase because I feel the state needs multiple income streams but the defeat will make our alternative look even better. Either way, immediately following the election, a new bill proposing “racinos” will be presented and support for it grows each day.
What can we do – as stated, vote NO. Secondly, continue to write your legislators (see info on the website) to express your support of the racino concept. Remember they will be offering 45% revenue to the state – far more than the Indian casinos ever have to allow.

I wonder how many adopters reading this newsletter are teachers, educators, have students facing cuts, work for the state and social service agencies or receive social services, work for fire or police departments, have friends who are now elderly, hungry, and homeless?

I wonder how many supporters and people who donate money to this Phoenix adoption group are teachers or married to teachers and educators, are the parents of students facing cuts, work for the state and social service agencies, or public safety or their spouses and other family members do, or know families who are currently elderly, hungry, or homeless?

There is a couple problems with this adoption group’s thinking:

1)A bill that is introduced soon thereafter could not even become law until after the next legislative session because the current legislative session is closed.

2)The Mormons, the Christians, the family values people, the Native Americans, the dog and horse advocates and their outraged friends/family, and the liberals don’t want no stinkin’ racinos.

3)It’s just plain selfish.

4)As for the 45 percent, what makes them think people from the tony Foothills and Oro Valley or the retired senior citizens in Green Valley are going to rush to Tucson Greyhound Park to play slots? Tucson Greyhound Park is already surrounded by slick Indian gaming casinos. Why would people want to go to dumpy racetracks? When TGP had a fire last year, there were more employees than bettors on the premises.

What’s 45 percent of nothing?

Nothing!

Sounds like bad odds to me.

And most importantly, according to recent news articles, the wildly popular sport of soccer will soon be inhabiting the dying sport of greyhound racing’s venue known as Phoenix Greyhound Park.

Score!

No dogs die in soccer.

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, then suddenly you are doing the impossible” Saint Francis of Assisi – Let’s apply this to ending greyhound racing in Arizona.

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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Greyhound racing is a mistake.

You betcha.

This week, former Iowa State Senator Bill Dieleman joined the effort to end live greyhound racing there.  I wish Arizona had a legislator who thought greyhound racing was a mistake and had the courage enough to speak out.

In a video statement, Dieleman explains how in 1983 he and others were trying to defeat a pari-mutuel racing proposal. Convinced that adding dog racing to the bill would keep horse racing out of Iowa, Dieleman added a dog racing amendment.

On the video, he urges his former colleagues to correct the mistake of greyhound racing saying that Iowa can put the dollars currently used to prop up the faltering dog racing industry to better use. The report further notes that purse supplements benefit few with more than 50% of the moneys going to 20 recipients and about 42% going to out-of-state operations.

The same can be said for Arizona. Did you know that in 2009, six percent of the breeders of 612 winning greyhounds earned $223,112 in breeders awards? The Arizona Department of Racing promotes and encourages the breeding of greyhounds which is stupid.  That’s $365 per dog. Is that more than Arizona pays per student?

But back to Iowa…redirecting the funds away from dog racing to the state is equivalent to:

* Approximately 200 teachers in Iowa public schools, or
* An additional 100 state troopers, or
* Nearly 200 state social workers could be hired to assist needy Iowans; or
* More than 180 correctional workers to keep Iowa facilities safe.

That seems like a no brainer.

Did you know that the Arizona Department of Racing is primarily financed by the General Fund? In 2009, Tucson Greyhound Park earned $4.1+ million from live racing and $9+ million from simulcast betting. Yet, they didn’t pay any pari-mutuel taxes to the state on these earnings. This is not a new event. They have not paid pari-mutuel taxes for at least a dozen years…for much more profitable years.  What other business doesn’t have to pay taxes? They do pay for some licensing. One of the licensing is to prove that your race dog is Arizona bred. Breeders pay the state a whopping $3 per dog (adobe acrobat required/PDF).

And don’t even get me started about the hardship tax credit Tucson Greyhound Park receives or else I’ll vomit my breakfast across the room.

Arizona legislators should redirect funds away from propping up a faltering industry that is more about the wagering than greyhound welfare and redirect funds and salaries paid to state veterinarians (who already have flourishing private practices) and from a handful of others.

What about taking the General Fund money that props up the Arizona Department of Racing and instead:

* Open the rest areas on the weekends
* Keep our state parks open longer
* Boost tourism

I wish Arizona had a Bill Dieleman, someone with a clear voice, reputable conscience  and the courage to speak out. Go Bill!

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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On Feb 10, 2010 seven greyhound advocates went to the Arizona Department of Racing monthly meeting.  I had very little expectation for this meeting;  I was not disappointed.

The agenda which was posted online said the meeting would address two bills:  HB 2637 and SB 1294.

Here’s what happened:

Rep. Nancy Young Wright spoke to the Arizona Department of Racing about HB 2637, ban steroids in racing greyhounds.  She spoke eloquently and intelligently.  Dr. Janet Forrer, a Tucson veterinarian, also spoke about how steroids are harmful over the long term, and that there is no recognized safe low dose for the chronic use of steroids in dogs.

The FDA strongly advises against long term use, and in young dogs who, like people, are particularly sensitive to the effects of abnormal amounts of steroids in their bodies.

Long-term use of anabolic steroids in dogs is known to cause urine scald, urinary tract infections, perivulvar dermatitis, and genital abnormalities, and has been implicated in heart disease and osteosarcoma.

In 2008, more than 100 Tucson-area veterinarians called long-term use of steroids to suppress estrus “unethical” and endorsed a local ordinance to end the practice.  Although the Tucson Dog Protection Act passed on the ballot, it is not being enforced by South Tucson, a one-square mile town where Tucson Greyhound Park is located.  (South Tucson is not without its own internal problems and investigations.)

While Dr. Forrer spoke, the powers that be … the racing commission and the director of racing sat with stone cold poker faces.

When Dr. Forrer was finished speaking, Dr. Andrew Carlton, chief track veterinarian/a state employee, spoke attempting to contradict what Dr. Forrer had just said about steroid use in dogs.  While Dr. Carlton spoke, the racing commission and the director of racing were nodding their heads, resembling (to me) bobble-head dolls.  Dr. Carlton said TGP is inspected every two weeks and the vets inspect it every two weeks.  SOMEONE PLEASE REQUEST THESE INSPECTION REPORTS.

Dr. Carlton said if dogs would need to be tested for steroids, there was no money in the budget to do so.  End of story.

At that remark I wanted to stand up and scream, “WELL, IF GREYHOUND RACING FUNDED THE AZ RACING DEPARTMENT INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND (FYI – the General Fund funds Arizona Department of Racing), YOU WOULD HAVE MONEY TO DRUG TEST THE DOGS.  I refrained;  it wasn’t easy.

Actually, if TGP greyhounds were allowed to go into heat, they would not need to be tested.  Female dogs go into heat two times a year for three weeks.  Kennel owners don’t want the dogs to lie around and not make money while in heat because they still need to be fed.  Many of these dogs wash out after six or seven races so they’re not even around for coming into heat two times a year.  Nevertheless they are dosed every 21 days or so with controlled substances whether they need it or not.  SOMEONE PLEASE REQUEST FROM THE DEA A LIST OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES REQUESTED FOR USE AT TUCSON GREYHOUND PARK.

Also, it costs the Arizona Department of Racing NOTHING for dogs to go into heat.  Imagine that?

After Dr. Carlton spoke, Dr. Forrer raised her hand.  The commission tried to ignore her, but finally called on her.  Dr. Forrer asked permission to ask Dr.  Carlton “a question of fact”, and the commission permitted her to do so.  She then asked Dr. Carlton which drugs are being used on the dogs at TGP (remember, he had just stated that TGP is inspected every two weeks).  Dr. Carlton — the chief track veterinarian for the Arizona Department of Racing — did not know the answer.

Dr. Doug Ames, veterinarian from Douglas, had to leave but asked Rep. Nancy Young Wright to relay his thoughts – many were similar to Dr. Forrer but he also stressed concern about the close proximity of TGP to the border, and about how the drugs were acquired, and the administration of the drugs.

Others got up to  speak in favor of injecting dogs with steroids.  One trainer wearing what appeared to me to be a Zoot suit said he starts injecting females at 1 year old and would do nothing to hurt his “producers”.

The meeting struck a chord as it eerily reminded me of a hearing held September 2007 at TGP when kennel operator David Blair had to defend himself for allegedly being intoxicated and trying to save a greyhound (Missy) from being euthanized for a correctable injury even though an adoption group was on the way to pick her up.  I have always wanted to ask – if he was indeed intoxicated as he was judged … why didn’t the South Tucson Police Department give him a breath test and why did they allow him to drive home allegedly drunk?

But I digress…this meeting was similar in that it felt like a sham.  No apologies to the Arizona Department of Racing.  The hearing held in September 2007 felt rigged and so did this meeting.  The only difference, the 2007 hearing was held at Tucson Greyhound Park and this meeting was held in an Arizona state office building and some people in authority were better dressed.

Legislative updates:  SB 1117 – County Racing and Agriculture Funds;  the director said that didn’t look good.  That means the budget will be cut for county fair racing and breeding of greyhounds.  WHOOPEE!   SB 1192 – Gambling, cities & towns – this is the racino bill.  (WE DON’T WANT ANY STINKIN’ RACINOS.)   And SB 1294 – Dog racing/days – this would decouple Tucson Greyhound Park and allow them to still simulcast but not have live dog racing.  SOUNDS LIKE A WIN-WIN, THIS TIME ALL THE DOGS WIN.

Also noted:

• Because of inclement weather, Turf Paradise, TGP, and Rillito Park were closed.
• 52 greyhounds remain available for adoption since closing of Phoenix Greyhound Park.
• Rillito Park is packing horse racing fans in.
• Tucson Greyhound Park is now open 6 nights a week instead of 5.
• Tucson Greyhound Park now is simulcasting from 32 outlets in Las Vegas.  I WONDER IF KENNEL OPERATORS WILL START MAKING MORE $$$ NOW?
• At Tucson Greyhound Park, two inches of sand has been added to the track to prevent race cancellations that may be caused by heavy rain.  NOT ONE DAMN THING SAID ABOUT GREYHOUND WELFARE BECAUSE OF TRACK CONDITIONS.  RUN DOGS RUN REGARDLESS OF WEATHER.

There’s been a moratorium on rule making – HOW CONVENIENT.

Someone, a former racing commissioner who said she wasn’t anti-racing but instead was anti-cruelty, said that greyhound racing was on the decline because of perception…the serious bettor’s perception of animal abuse, drugging dogs, and cheating.  Once again the director and his racing commissioner minions seemed to turn to stone during her one-minute “perception” speech.

And if that isn’t all bad news, Dr. Thomas Kelly will be the next racing commissioner.  Here’s two articles about him.   Racing commissioners are appointed by the Governor Jan Brewer’s office.  Isn’t it about time to appoint an advocate?  The racing commission as it stands now is no different than OJ policing himself.

Articles about Dr. Kelly:

http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docid=5002157705

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1990-01-17/news/critters-never-win-sometimes-they-do/

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP) by NoMoreRacing
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Here’s an article about cutting horse racing in Kingman, Ariz.

Thank Dog some of AZ politicos have some sense to not keep on financing horse racing at the fairgrounds. Now if they just had more sense, they wouldn’t keep on financing greyhound racing either.

According to the Arizona audit of the Department of Racing, greyhound racing is 85 percent financed by the General Fund. With all the cuts and reductions for families and children, you would think that maybe if the AZ Dept of Racing cannot fund itself, then what’s the point? Where’s the good business model?

It’s not like dog racing isn’t making any money. It is.

In 2009, Tucson Greyhound Park made $9+ million from simulcast activity and $4+ million from live racing at the track. The state of Arizona makes no money off  this pari-mutuel income which is why the Ariz. Department of Racing is primarily financed by other state agencies.

It doesn’t seem like the horse racing people like the dog racing people much. Who can blame them? Maybe it’s because the horse racing people don’t like the fact that the dog racing people receive hardship tax credits. Can’t fault the horse racing people for that?

Here’s another factoid which can be found in the ADOR audit report. In 2009, 6 percent of the dog breeders were awarded $223,112 for 612 winning greyhounds.I hope those hounds were treated like kings and queens but I doubt it

Now with only one live dog race track in Tucson, let’s hope the AZ Dept of Racing doesn’t keep encouraging and rewarding the breeding of greyhounds like in the past but you never know because old ideas are hard to break. Makes no sense, no common sense in a bankrupt state.

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money by NoMoreRacing
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Wow!  Who would want to go to a dumpy dog track when they could go to a beautiful Las Vegas style Indian gaming casino that costs $215 million? This surpasses the previous Indian gaming casinos. This is the second generation of glam fun.

Good thing Phoenix Greyhound Park is closing since it’s in the ghetto and nobody would want to go to a racino there anyway when they can go here.

More, more beautiful, high tech, entertainment-oriented Indian gaming casinos. This one has a 5-AAA diamond restaurant too. Bring it on!

No more greyhound racing dog tracks. Close their doors forever. No new predatory gambling racinos in Ariz. At these slick and shiny Indian gaming casinos, no 4-legged animals ever die in the name of sport or greed.

Kill Phoenix and Tucson greyhound racing and racinos in their tracks. Support the Indian gaming casinos.  

Racinos will prop up the dying industry of greyhound racing; dog tracks are closing all over the United States. 

 Write or call your AZ legislators and tell them more racinos would mean more greyhound racing and more greyhound racing means more Ariz. racing greyhounds will be injured and die. There’s been enough greyhound blood in Phoenix and Tucson.

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Good News, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP) by NoMoreRacing
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It’s a good day for Arizona when a greyhound track closes and the Phoenix Greyhound Park will close near the end of December. WOO HOO!

Can you imagine that these poor dogs have to race around the track when it’s 100+ degrees from May through September?

Read the article in the Phoenix newspaper. 

Read the 2008 injury & euthanasia report for greyhound racing in Arizona.

Read previous statistics on Greyhound Racing Sucks.

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Good News by NoMoreRacing
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In today’s Arizona Republic, there’s a front page article about the number of reported injuries at Phoenix Greyhound Park in 2008 — 451.  That’s too many.

Read the article, read this alert and email Governor Jan Brewer asking her to put an end to the cruel sport of greyhound racing in Arizona.

Here’s a list of 555 greyhound injuries at both Tucson and Phoenix greyhound parks (in PDF format).

Thank you.

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP), Greyhounds ETC. by NoMoreRacing
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