CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Farm Bill which recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives includes a measure which would be the end greyhound racing in West Virginia.
The measure actually bans greyhound racing in the United States. However, the only place it still happens is at two racetracks in the Mountain State. The measure, if passed in the Senate, would bring racing to an end at Mardis Gras Casino in Nitro and Wheeling Island Racetrack and Casino in Ohio County.
Such a declaration would be a major victory for the organization Grey2K which has long worked to end greyhound racing. The group’s executive director, Carey Thiel, said it’s a practice which has been on the way out for a while, but the greyhound breeders have managed to keep a strong foothold in West Virginia.
“The amount gambled on greyhound racing is declining and greyhound racing is illegal in 44 states,” Thiel said in an appearance on 580-Live on MetroNews Flagship station WCHS Radio in Charleston. “I think there’s a small but loud contingent of greyhound breeders who want this to continue. But the reality is when we polled on this issue, the voters of West Virginia overwhelmingly want greyhound racing to end.”
Thiel claimed the reason for the decline are numerous, but one of the big ones is what he maintained is cruel and inhumane treatment of the dogs.
“There are roughly 2000 dogs in West Virginia to be used at the two racetracks. They’re kept in warehouse style kennels in rows of stacked metal cages for long hours each day. A lot of dogs are seriously injured on the track,” Thiel added. “This is an industry that is cruel and inhumane.”
But Ohio County Delegate Shawn Fluharty was incredulous at the organization’s claims.
“Grey2K is a joke and they’ve been a joke from day one. They were a joke when they were in the halls of the West Virginia Legislature and they were denied time after time when they tried to take it away at the state level. They knew they couldn’t beat us at the state level so they took their lies to where lies live, Washington D.C.” said Fluharty on MetroNews Talkline.
“I invite any listener in the state of West Virginia to come to the Northern Panhandle and visit the kennels and visit the owners and see how these dogs are treated. They are a PR campaign and that’s all they are and they are an easy PR campaign because we’re talking about dogs. But we should also be talking about the thoroughbred industry because they’re going to be coming for them next,” he added.
When the West Virginia Legislature legalized casino gambling in the state, part of the state code required Wheeling Island and Mardis Gras to maintain the racetracks as part of the operation. The two were tied together. Thiel argued the tracks are a financial burden to the casinos and a revenue loser for the state.
“The reality is the state is receiving very little economic benefit from this activity. At the same time, it’s taking $19 Million a year in casino gambling profits and using those to subsidize the dog races. The state law requires the casino offer greyhound racing and they subsidize greyhound racing. That money can be used for fixing roads, healthcare, and for all sorts of important programs. Instead, the state is literally taking that money and sending it to greyhound breeders,” he added.
Fluharty however was quick to dispel Thiel’s claims.
“They say all these lies, ‘Oh they depend on a subsidy.’ It’s not a subsidy, if you don’t go to the casino, guess what not a single dollar of yours goes to the industry. That’s been a lie from day one and a lie they continue to tell to this day. But that’s what happens when you don’t have facts and evidence to back it up and you have to depend on PR campaigns like Grey2k ,” he said.
Fluharty worried if the industry is banned, it will be a hard blow to his district in Ohio County where so many track workers live.
“The police and fire pensions rely on it, not to mention the 500 to 700 jobs we might lose because of it. Those are trainers, owners, veterinarians and direct and indirect revenue sources. We’ve seen estimations in the Millions of dollars annually, $50 Million at the local level,” he said.
The Farm Bill now heads to the United States Senate. Whether the measure to do away with greyhound racing forever survives remains to be seen.