Decoupling would substantially reduce the number of greyhound races and therefore the number of dogs involved in this abusive industry.
The need for decoupling results from a strange Florida law that requires dog tracks that have card room licenses, which permit them to run poker games, to run almost as many races — 90% — as they did the year they got the card licenses. Decoupling would sever the connection and free Florida’s 13 dog racing tracks to hold fewer greyhound races.
Race tracks are generally losing money on greyhound racing. They make their money from their card room licenses, and in Florida, that means they have to keep racing dogs. Two state committees are considering decoupling dog racing from card room licenses, which would drastically reduce the number of dogs involved and suffering in the racing industry. The earliest they might act is 2014.
Encourage them to do the right thing and decouple racing from other gambling activities.
To the Honorable Senator Richter and Representative Schenck,
I write to support decoupling greyhound racing from card room licenses.
Decoupling would substantially reduce the number of greyhound races and therefore the number of dogs involved in this abusive industry.
It would also help the race tracks that are generally losing money on greyhound racing.
There is no longer any purpose for the old rule tying racing and card room licenses together. Please do the right thing for business and for animal welfare and pass decoupling.
Sincerely,
