Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed legislation allowing the Bluffs Run greyhound racetrack at Horseshoe Council Bluffs casino to close on December 31, 2015. In addition, racing at the Dubuque Greyhound Park will continue, but the Iowa Greyhound Association will take over management from the Mystique Casino. The two casinos no longer will have to pay million in annual subsidies to the unprofitable greyhound racetracks. Senate File 2362 was overwhelmingly approved by legislators in the final days of the 2014 session.
Iowa horsemen had objected to a provision in the bill that would allow the Iowa Greyhound Association to simulcast horse and dog races at Iowa casinos without guaranteeing a part of the revenue would go toward horseracing purses. That delayed Branstad’s approval. “My concern, I think, is that the horse industry was left out of this,” he said. But casino officials pointed out the millions spent annually on racing could go toward charities instead.
Jon Moss, executive director of the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said, “While we wish something more could have been done, we understand Governor Branstad’s decision. The bill had passed the legislature overwhelmingly. He made it very clear that he expects the bill to be reopened at the beginning of next year.”
To stop paying annual subsidies, the casinos will pay $72 million, with half going to fund the IGA’s Dubuque meets, and half going to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, which must use a portion of the money to assist dogs that can no longer race.
