CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hard times mean hard choices and greyhound breeders in West Virginia are finding themselves on the losing end of those choices at the state capitol this legislative session.
A bill (SB641) which would end the state’s contribution to the purse and breeders funds for greyhound racing cleared the state Senate on Tuesday and advanced to the House of Delegates.
“We have to look at every single dollar we spend and figure out what is the best way to spend this money,” said Sen. Chris Walters (R-Putnam) “I don’t think subsidizing greyhound racing is the best use of tax payer dollars.”
Kennel owners in the state are fighting the measure. Steve Sarras is President of the West Virginia Kennel Owners Association and disagreed the money Walters is talking about is a “subsidy.” The purse money is funded by gamblers, according to Sarras, through a formula worked out between the state, track owners, and the racing industry years ago in an effort to win support to install video-lottery and eventually table games at the state’s race tracks which are now casinos.
He also touted the industry employs 1,700 people and last year brought more than a million dollars into the economy of West Virginia.
“We’re looking at knocking out an industry that’s made a million dollars for the state of West Virginia and putting 1.700 people on the street,” said Sarras. “Plus putting 3,000 dogs in harms way, which I can tell you right now there’s no good, feasible plan for the absorption of those greyhounds.”
The legislation ends the subsidies, estimated to be between $15 million and $20 million annually, and directs the money into the state’s general fund. The bill would end the requirement that the casinos at Cross Lanes and Wheeling maintain dog racing tracks to operate.
It could be the end of the dog racing industry in West Virginia.
“I’m one of the top kennels in the state of West Virginia and none of the kennels can do it,” said Sarras when questioned about the sustainability of the kennels if the bill passed.
“Looking at their numbers and what they’re bringing in the question is can they sustain themselves on their own,” Walters said. “When you look at the return on investment the state is getting, I don’t know that they would be able to.”
The bill additionally ends the state’s contributions to the modernization fund which enabled casinos to upgrade their gambling equipment from time to time and stay competitive with neighboring states. Walters said he didn’t see that as any better investment than supporting greyhound breeding.
“The modernization fund is a fund we created to help casinos buy slot machines and keep their facilities up to date,” Walters said. “It’s another thing, should the state be in the business of helping casinos buy slot machines and I don’t think we should be in that business.”