Friday Hound Blogging

We've written before about the advanced level of business acumen necessary to become an overlord. Unit exploitation is not a career in which just anyone can survive. It requires a clear grasp of market fundamentals, advanced planning skills, and a talent for fiscal management.

Oh, and a head injury.

The Corpus Christi Greyhound Racetrack lost $25 for every visitor to the track in 2006, an annual loss totaling $3.5 million, according to financial statements filed with the Texas Racing Commission. Previous years haven't been much better. In all, investors in the track are owed $35.5 million.

They had investors? Oh, well that makes sense.

As track officials re-affirmed plans to shut the facility's doors for at least one year, one question remains. Why have they bothered to keep it open for so long?

"Couldn't find the dagone key," said former general manager Jacques Tripplett. "Turns out the lock's broken anyway."

The track's operators sustained the losses in hopes the Legislature would expand gambling in Texas. They wanted slot machines or video gambling terminals, to be specific. "Well, to be really specific we wanted anything that would keep us from having to get real jobs," Tripplett said. "It's not like we're overflowing with them whatdyacallum, marketable skills out here."

Track officials wanted to shorten the racing season to three months and institute a circuit with a track in Harlingen in an effort to stem losses. The racing commission, which regulates greyhound racing down to the annual schedule of races denied the track's request after dog and kennel owners opposed the plan. "They wanted to shut down for nine months just because people aren't coming out," said one kennel owner. "I just don't see the logic in that."

Hmmm...He might want to look just a wee bit harder, huh Ida?

Ida is very outgoing and friendly. Happy, wags often, tail wags like crazy. She is very affectionate. She will approach and stand by you for affection. She is playful and puppy-like. She is quite agile. She can jump a standard 4’ fence and on the first day in her foster home, she was found standing on top of the dining room table – all 4 feet on the table. Ida would be good in a working family home with well-mannered children, 6 and older. She is good with other dogs and would probably be fine as an only dog with a family who would exercise and play with her often. For more information about this dog, and other rescued racing greyhounds looking for homes, go here. If you don't know about the plight of racing greyhounds go here.