Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality arm of Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians, is currently undergoing vetting by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in advance of its purchase of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem from Las Vegas Sands Corp. for $1.3 billion. However, before the tribal concern can take over the Sands, it must decide what to do with its greyhound racing track in Pensacola, Florida.
In the recent election, Florida voters decided in a referendum to phase out dog racing in the state within two years. The measure states that any track that suspends live dog racing immediately will be permitted to maintain the poker and simulcasting operations in place at the facilities.
For now, Wind Creek—which suspended dog racing last year at its only other track, Mobile Greyhound Park in Alabama—is not revealing its plans for the Pensacola track. “Pensacola Greyhound Track will comply with all applicable laws,” Daniel R. Wilson, the track’s assistant general manager, said in an emailed statement to the Allentown Morning Call. “As to any specifics at this time, review of all options is ongoing. We will make public our final decision once it has been determined.”
The newspaper, however, quoted the president of GREY2K USA, one of the groups pushing for a nationwide ban of dog racing, as saying Wind Creek has already indicated to greyhound breeders that Pensacola will not reopen for live dog racing next year. “As we understand it, Pensacola has made that decision,” Christine A. Dorchak told the Morning Call. “They will not reopen for live racing.”
Dorchak’s group and other animal rights advocates see the Florida vote as a huge win, since the state’s 11 dog tracks make up nearly two-thirds of the remaining operating dog tracks in the U.S. Industry analysts are saying dog racing will not survive much longer without Florida, widely considered the sport’s hub.
