Sprint Invaders Dubuque IA 7-24-19
Faced with declining profits, owners of greyhound tracks are now pushing for legislation to cut the number of races while maintaining their other gambling operations.
Credit Steve Hebert for The New York Times COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Not many people attend the races here at anymore.
Aside from a few dozen aging diehards cheering the dogs from the shabby grandstand, the gambling-inclined prefer to take their chances amid the bright lights and constant action of the casino downstairs.
But even though the races are losing millions of dollars each year, the owners are required to keep the greyhounds running six days a week.
After a decade in which more than half the greyhound tracks in the country have closed, many of the remaining operations have survived thanks to the model used at Bluffs Run.
Over the years, the tracks, which were there first, won permission from states to add slot machines and poker tables under the condition that a chunk of the profits go to the dog races — essentially subsidizing one form of gambling with another.
Now, after years defending greyhound racing against attacks that it is inhumane, a growing number of track owners are, to the astonishment of opponents and the dismay dog track casino dubuque ia fans, joining the critics among the animal rights groups.
Complaining that they are being forced go here spend millions of dollars a year to dog track casino dubuque ia a pastime that the public has all but abandoned, greyhound track owners in Iowa, Florida and Arizona have been lobbying for changes in dog track casino dubuque ia law that would allow them to cut the number of races, or even shut down their tracks, while keeping their far more lucrative gambling operations.
Advertisement Though the legislative outcome is in doubt in the short term, the effort has intensified the concern that the end may be near for a century-old pastime.
The reversal is regarded as a betrayal by those who earn their paychecks — or lose them — at the greyhound tracks.
Though many of the racing supporters acknowledge that the sport cannot survive financially on its own, they argue that operations like Bluffs Run should not be allowed to abandon dog racing for greater profits after using it as justification to expand into other forms of gambling.
Photo The track in Council Bluffs loses millions of dollars a year.
Credit The New York Times There are now 22 tracks in 7 states, down from 49 tracks in 15 states a decade ago, according to Grey2K.
Some tracks have gone out of business, others were shut down through legislation, and most of the survivors rely on other gambling revenue.
In Florida, home to more than half of the remaining sheraton puerto rico casino, owners had expected legislation to pass this year that would dog track casino dubuque ia them to cut back dog racing while keeping other gambling operations.
A similar measure stalled last year despite bipartisan support, and it once again appears to have died in the Legislature.
Advertisement Isadore Havenick is lobbying for that legislation on behalf of his family-owned company in Check this out, which has run racetracks in the state for six decades.
He said the races were losing millions of dollars.
Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box.
You must select a newsletter to dog track casino dubuque ia to.
You may opt-out at any time.
You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services.
Thank you for subscribing.
An error has occurred.
Please try again later.
You are already subscribed to this email.
Built for 6,500 visitors — the crowds were so big on opening day that many were turned away — only about 70 regulars showed up at Bluffs Run one day last week.
Most knew one another by name.
So when the local cable operator stopped broadcasting races and the local newspaper stopped running results, there was little surprise.
It rewards careful study, fosters community dog track casino dubuque ia consumes money slowly.
Anger crept into their voices as they talked about Caesars Entertainment.
They noted that casino gambling was legalized here explicitly to subsidize the dog racing.
And they said the company was undermining its own product.
Bob Hardison, dog track casino dubuque ia breeder who is president of the Iowa Greyhound Association, expressed satisfaction that the legislation appeared to have failed again this year but was worried that the efforts would continue.
The scene downstairs suggested why.
Working a different slot machine with each hand, Angela Clover, 58, said she used to attend the greyhound races with her father, who is still a regular, but she had not returned for years.
She said the slots were more of a rush.
Her 28-year-old son, Nick, nodded in agreement.
We would love to hear from you.
Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque, Iowa
The Hilton Garden Inn Dubuque Downtown hotel connects to Mystique Casino and Dubuque Greyhound Park. Enjoy complimentary WiFi, shuttle service and ...
It is a pity, that now I can not express - I am late for a meeting. But I will return - I will necessarily write that I think.
What words... super, a remarkable phrase
I confirm. I join told all above.