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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Dear Representative:  Arizona lawmakers have clearly worked hard to create a budget in these difficult times. However, it appears that lawmakers have turned a blind eye to millions of dollars in revenue that would benefit Arizona families.   Greyhound racing does not pay taxes on live handle racing or simulcast betting.   While the two out-of-state owners of Tucson Greyhound Park make millions, they pay no pari-mutuel taxes to Arizona. Back in 1994-1995, they paid $1,090.295 in pari-mutuel taxes; yet not one penny since 1996.  From 1989 through 2007 their total track revenue was $96,609,022. According to a 2007 audit, the partners had never filed individual Arizona income tax returns; nor had their management company. But the owners did pay themselves a management fee of $2.2 million!  House Majority Whip Andy Tobin has shown interest in allowing horse and dog tracks to have as many slot machines as they want along with blackjack and poker games. More free-for-all gambling is not the answer. Excessive gambling leads to unemployment, loss of income, bankruptcy, and emotional stress on families.   Rather than put more gambling venues in place, our lawmakers should start by taxing the greyhound racetracks and treat them just like other businesses. Greyhound racing should pay to play.  Taxing the greyhound racetracks will not end the budget crisis, but since 1995 the state of Arizona has lost an estimated $44 million in uncollected revenue from all Arizona greyhound tracks (source: Arizona Department of Racing Annual Reports). There are other problems with dog racing, and Tucson Dog Protection intends to share that information with you, but because your focus has been on the budget, they too will focus on finances.  For budgetary fairness, please strongly consider taxing simulcasting, removing the track’s tax credits, and examining why Tucson Greyhound Park’s owners are not filing state tax returns.   Respectfully,Tucson Dog Protection  

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP) by NoMoreRacing
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On May 28, 2009, Tucson Greyhound Park’s historic dome caught on fire during the second race. Mercifully, the 80 to 90 dogs were all taken to safety but I wonder if they were checked for smoke inhalation?  That has not been reported on.  Nobody was hurt which is good. There were only 20 patrons and 30 employees on the premises. The South Tucson and Tucson fire departments had difficulty putting out the fire which was caused by faulty electrical.

Read more about the fire. 

Here’s a photo.

And in this article, the reporter made an error saying the kennels were air conditioned. Not! The media is never allowed in the back so there is no first-hand experience. If you read comments #48 and #49, a member of the Department of Racing task force says otherwise.

Kudos to the Arizona Daily Star for wondering how TGP can exist with only 20 patrons. They learned that the Tucson Greyhound Park makes their millions through off track betting. But what they failed to do is ask why TGP doesn’t pay any taxes to the state of Arizona on these millions of OTB dollars earned.   

The last time they paid OTB taxes to the state was 1995-1996 and that was for $55,284. In the year 1994-1995, it was over $1 mil. Nothing has been paid to the State of Arizona since then by TGP for off track betting taxes. (See AZ Dept of Racing Audit Reports)

You’re facing a budget crisis and your elected officials are spinning out of control avoiding the issues. What’s with that?

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Greyhound Racing - TUCSON (TGP) by NoMoreRacing
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It looks like Rhode Island’s politicians are much wiser and smarter than Arizona politicians.

Why?

Because the governor of Rhode Island took away the “upward to $10 million subsidy” to dog racing owners. Bravo.

Arizona taxpayers and students are not as lucky:

The Department of Racing is 85 percent financed by another state agency.

The greyhound race track in Tucson gets a hardship tax credit (because of declining income–do all you other Tucson businesses get that same perk?)

And Arizona racing greyhound breeders are rewarded mighty handsomely.

Meanwhile there are cuts in education and social services among other things.

I really think Arizona politicians have been out in the sun too long as they continue this free ride farce for the greyhound racing industry while raping education support on all levels.

But nobody seems to care. I used to think Arizona was a great place to live. I don’t anymore.

Read more about Rhode Island.

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Nationwide Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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 Permission to post granted by journalist Melanie Kiser

 Racing in Arizona Runs Off Your State Tax Dollars

Racing enthusiasts are not the only people gambling on Arizona’s pari-mutuel betting and live racing industries.

Since 1995, most horse and greyhound racetracks in the state have received significant financial support from the state of Arizona as part of legislation (pgs. 7-8) passed in 1994 to assist the racing industry in competing with the onslaught of Indian casinos.

“People don’t do pari-mutuel gambling as much as they used to,” said Dan Luciano, general manager of Phoenix Greyhound Park. “The population has gone towards casinos.”

Luciano said live racing and the pari-mutuel industry is “nothing like it used to be in the old days.”

The statute, senate bill 1373, provides for a hardship tax credit based on the percentage decrease in pari-mutuel wagering each year compared with the base year, which ranges from 1989-1994. Pari-mutuel wagering encompasses all wagering at horse or dog tracks and off-site betting locations.

Additionally, the bill lowered taxes for greyhound tracks and exempted simulcast handle from state taxation. Simulcast wagering made up 75 percent of total commercial racing handle in 2008.

Critics of the policy argue the live racing industry, particularly greyhounds, has been in decline for over 20 years now.

“The industry is dying and they are being artificially kept a live because they are hoping to get slot machine or video terminals,” said Joan Eidinger, editor of Greyhound Network News and former head of the Department of Racing’s greyhound racing task force. “They’re just holding on for that.

The Horse Racing Industry Gallops On

Arizona’s commercial horse tracks, Turf Paradise and Yavapai Downs, are faring much better. Neither received hardship tax credit in the last five years, but the state only collected $430,000 in revenue because it does not tax simulcast wagering, which makes up 83 percent of the tracks’ handle.

Turf Paradise in Phoenix brings in enough revenue to make the track ineligible for the hardship tax credit. The track has seen a 4 percent decline since 2004, however, and its net decrease since the early 1990s was enough to earn it a large tax cut in 2008. Instead of the $6.6 million it would have paid prior to the SB 1373, Turf Paradise paid less than $500,000.

Pari-mutuel handle at Yavapai Downs in Prescott Valley increased by a third since 2004, but its 2008 handle of $34.9 million was not enough for the state to tax it. If the state did require Yavapai Downs to pay the 2 percent on the first million wagered and 5 percent thereafter, Arizona would have collected $1.7 million in tax revenue.

In fact, both tracks earned enough in 2007 and 2008 to make them ineligible for a hardship tax credit. Turf Paradise is the only racetrack, horse or dog, in the state to pay any taxes on its pari-mutuel revenue.

State pari-mutuel tax revenue in 2008 was $430,000, less than one-fifth of one percent of the gross handle for the industry, including horse, greyhound and county fair racing.

Is Greyhound Racing At Its Finish Line?

Half of the US dog tracks operating in 1991 have ceased live racing or closed completely. As of January 2009, 31 tracks had been closed and 31 remained open.

In fiscal year 2008, the total pari-mutuel handle for commercial greyhound racing was $67.7 million, a 17 percent decrease from 2007.

If the greyhound tracks were not protected by statute and given hardship tax credits, the state would have received $3.73 million in tax revenue and saved an additional $1.8 million.

Many, including Eidinger, predict the greyhound racing industry will continue to lose support as PETA and other animal welfare groups speak out against it.

“Let me tell you this, the trend has been that it is declining,” said Luis Marquez, director of the Department of Racing. So it’s likely to continue to decline. Is it going to bottom out? Is it going to start increasing? It depends on what the public wants to see and what the industry offers.”

Marquez said that even if the revenue does continue to decline, the tracks would receive more state funds through the hardship tax credit, and the tracks would eventually have to make a “business decision.”

Luciano said he seems racing become a “niche sport,” almost like miniature golf.

“There used to be miniature golf places everywhere, and now there are very few,” he said.

“The inherent problem with racing, whether horses or greyhound, is you have a product where they run counterclockwise around a racetrack every 12 minutes or so, and that’s all we have to offer. And there’s just so much more to do now than there was back in 1987, when Phoenix Greyhound Park opened.”

The Only Way Racing Will Survive

Luciano said some states, like West Virginia and Iowa, are allowing slot machines and casino card games in the grandstands, and they generate around $400 million in taxes each year.

[Iowa Expanded Gambling to fill $130 million budget deficit, and its tax revenue from gambling increased by $1.3 billion.]

“That’s the only way racing is going to survive,” he said, but acknowledged the odds were not in the tracks’ favor. “Because of the make-up of the legislature, most of them just feels gaming isn’t something they want in their state.”

A 2002 ballot initiative called the “Fair Gaming Act” would have permitted non-tribal gaming operators a limited number of gaming devices and allotted 40 percent of gross revenues to the general fund for things like elementary school reading programs, college scholarships and prescription benefits for senior citizens.

The “Fair Gaming Act” failed in every county, however, and garnered only 20 percent of the vote statewide.

If the legislature did allow such gaming in racetracks or anywhere off of reservations, “it would void some of the contract with the Tribes,” who wouldn’t have to pay as much to the state in taxes and would be allowed unlimited machines, Luciano said.

Marquez said the local economy would be negatively impacted if all the racetracks closed.

“I think the legislature provided these hardship tax credits because they see the importance to the economy of trying to help them cope with the situation,” he said.

Joan Eidinger said the only way to keep the state from being heavily burdened by the track tax breaks would be for the legislature to repeal SB 1373, which will most likely not happen this session because of the budget crisis.

The budget crisis has hurt racing in another way, also—the Department of has had its budget by 20 percent, from $2.8 million to $2.3 million in the last two years, Marquez said.

Eidinger worries that the Department of Racing is approaching its own finish line.

“We’re potentially facing not having a Dept of Racing, and it’s really the only defense the animals have,” she said. “Can the racetracks function without a regulatory body? I don’t think they can.”

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money, Speak Out Against Greyhound Racing by NoMoreRacing
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Governor Jan Brewer says that all options are on the table to fix the Arizona state deficit.

This article mentions a temporary tax increase and loosening voters’ spending mandates.

I have a better idea: What about taxing greyhound racing and horse racing? 

Dear Governor Brewer, are you putting that option on the table? 

Think there’s not enough money to tax? Think again: The total handle generated by commercial and county fair racing for teletracking (simulcast betting) was $172.8 million. This included $127.3 million for horse racing and $45.5 million for greyhound racing. (View the 2008 audit report-PDF required.)

The State of Arizona received $218,513 in revenue from the simulcast handle, all of which was generated from the Turf Paradise handle at off-track sites.

Greyhound racing has not paid pari-mutuel taxes (gambling taxes on money from live racing and off track betting/simulcast betting/teletracking) since mid 1990s.  The AZ Department of Racing is 85 percent financed by yet another State department. Somebody is making money but it’s not the state of Arizona and it’s not the AZ Dept of Racing.

This is so wrong especially in a billion dollar budget deficit!

According to the Arizona Department of Racing’s 2008 audit report, some greyhound racing venue gets a hardship tax credit because of a decline in business.    Several businesses have steep declines in sales and are going out of business. Are you getting hardship tax credits too?

Taxing the greyhound and horse racing venues won’t solve all the budget problems but it won’t be an ongoing money vomit pit either.

We don’t want no stinkin’ temporary tax increase especially when greyhound racing is not paying state pari-mutuel taxes on millions of dollars earned.

How about you? 

Contact the media and Governor Brewer.

It’s your money — SPEAK OUT!

Tags: Arizona - Show Me the Money by NoMoreRacing
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