The National Greyhound Association recently proposed offering free tours of “three Florida greyhound tracks and their on-site kennels.” The tours would be “designed to promote transparency and educate the public about the care of greyhounds at the track, as well as stewardship of the breed,” the NGA wrote in a statement. The proposal was in response to a constitutional amendment that would end live greyhound racing. A circuit court judge had ruled the proposal, Amendment 13, should be removed from the November 6 ballot, in response to a lawsuit by the Florida Greyhound Association. But the state Supreme Court recently placed the constitutional amendment back on the ballot.
However, a spokesperson for the regulatory department warned, “Certain areas of parimutuel facilities are restricted access, specifically the backside where racing animals are kept.”
FGA lobbyist Jack Cory said, “This is outrageous! The state is stopping the people from getting the truth and facts about live greyhound racing by hiding behind a rule.”
The group behind Amendment 13, Protect Dogs-Yes on 13, issued a statement calling the tours “staged political photo opportunities,” adding, “Although we welcome the opportunity for the public to see the deplorable conditions greyhounds are subjected to, these events were nothing more than photo opps aimed at whitewashing the industry.”
The statement continued, “Although we did not have input in this state decision, it is another example of how the greyhound industry can’t play by the rules. Dog racers apparently believe they are above the law, whether it’s the state drug testing program or state laws about racetrack security.”
In response, Cory filed a public records request with the department for “any and all complaints filed either in writing, or all of the notes from any complaints filed over the telephone during the last 30 days, about permitting the citizens of the state of Florida to visit greyhound kennels at greyhound tracks.” The request names Carey Theil, executive director of GREY2K USA Worldwide, and Christine Dorchak, the organization’s president and general counsel. Cory warned them, “Please be advised that this request will be noticed with the Florida news media.”
Derby Lane in St. Petersburg and the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach were going to be the first two tracks to offer tours.
Amendment 13 requires at least 60 percent of voter approval to be added to the state constitution.
