A federal invoice that might section out greyhound racing in West Virginia, the game’s final bastion within the US, hasn’t been welcomed by the state’s two members of Congress.
Greyhound racing on the Mardi Gras observe close to Charleston, one in all two canine racing tracks left not solely in West Virginia, however in the entire of the US. (Picture: Mardis Gras On line casino)
US Reps Alex Mooney (R) and Carol Miller (R) stated in separate statements that it needs to be right down to West Virginia to determine whether or not to finish the races.
“Greyhound racing has a wealthy historical past within the state of West Virginia,” stated Mooney, as reported by The Wheeling Information-Register. “Selections associated to the way forward for canine tracks within the state needs to be made by the state authorities and the personal sector.”
‘Merciless, Dying Trade’
The bipartisan invoice, the Greyhound Safety Act (GPA), would amend the federal Animal Welfare Act to ban greyhound racing and make wagering on races unlawful.
It was launched final Thursday by US Rep Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) amongst others. Cardenas is an animal rights campaigner who has sponsored beforehand unsuccessful incarnations of the GPA.
Greyhound racing is a merciless, dying business that deserves no place in our nation,” Cardenas stated in an announcement. “These canine are sometimes compelled into brutal coaching regimes and races the place they danger severe damage and dying. When they don’t seem to be racing or coaching, these animals are sometimes topic to horrifying, inhumane therapy akin to drugging, electrocution, and confinement for as much as 23 hours a day.”
Cardenas stated he hopes the invoice will “finish the business greyhound racing business and the animal abuses it has change into so related to, as soon as and for all.”
Final Two Standing
West Virginia has two greyhound racing tracks, together with one on the Mardi Gras On line casino & Resort close to Charleston and the opposite on the Wheeling Island Resort On line casino Racetrack. Since Florida discontinued racing on the finish of 2020, and Arkansas’ final observe, Southland, pulled the plug on the finish of final 12 months, these are the one two left within the nation.
The closure of the competitors seems to have boosted betting deal with on the West Virginia tracks. Delaware North, the proprietor of each operations, informed The Wheeling Information-Register that whereas there isn’t a plan to discontinue racing, the corporate wouldn’t be against ending racing if it had been required to take action by the federal authorities.
That’s as a result of the venues are allowed to supply playing video games akin to video lottery terminals (VLTs) and desk video games as a result of they’re racetracks. In reality, dropping racing and changing into a full-fledged on line casino, moderately than a “racino,” would doubtless show to be extra profitable in the long term.
“Delaware North continues to observe legislative efforts to finish greyhound racing in West Virginia and would help phasing out greyhound racing at our two casinos there if laws handed that might permit us to function the casinos with out working racing,” stated spokesperson Glen White.
