Friday Hound Blogging

It's long been an article of faith amongst the overlords that if the states would just give them a level playing field when it came to competing with other forms of gambling they could hold their own. The strategy is quite simple really. Less greyhound racing means more money.

Broward and Miami-Dade County racetrack owners have banded together to convince lawmakers to give them a break when it comes to gambling. The tracks are at a disadvantage because the tribe is operating Las Vegas-style card games, including blackjack and baccarat, at three of its seven Florida casinos. "They got no dogs at those places," said Dan Adkins, CEO of Mardi Gras Gaming. "That means people go there."

The overlords want the legislature to offer them tax breaks for equipment and construction so they can upgrade their facilities and move from operating at 26 percent of their potential earnings to 100 percent.

Ha. Who says the overlords are dumb. You can't argue with math. If the state would just remove the shackles it has placed on greyhound racing, we would enter a new era of popularity for animal exploitation. Why, just look around you at other tracks where an enlightened state government has been a partner with the overlords instead of a hindrance.

After 51 seasons as a harness and dog racing facility, Hinsdale Greyhound Park announced it has “ceased operations and surrendered its pari-mutuel license to state regulators.” Track attorney John J. Sullivan said a bankruptcy filing was made in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Erm...OK, bad example. Well, maybe they didn't have all that fancy gambling stuff that makes up for the fact that only six people bet on the units...er...dogs. And two of them use Monopoly money.

The Hinsdale Greyhound Racing Association, which handled significantly more money on Thoroughbred racing as a rebate shop than dog racing, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy placing nearly a half-million dollars from hundreds of betting accounts is in limbo.

Oh. So they did have gambling on more than just the dogs. Still, how bad can it be?

The filing lists hundreds of bettors, including Herschel Bird who is owed $138,150, as creditors. Creditors believed to be bettors are owed more than $450,000. Another listed creditor is well-known horse racing author and handicapper Andy Beyer, who could be out $20,440. Like many bettors at the New Hampshire rebate shop, Beyer was committed to keeping his money in the pari-mutuel pools. “I’ve already written that money off,” Beyer said. “I don’t expect to ever see it again.”

OK, you gamble, and when you win you don't take your winnings. There's a possibility you are unclear on the concept.

Joseph E. Sullivan III, the track’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement, "our efforts to attract investors or a buyer were in the end unsuccessful because we had to take out ads in the paper and trade magazines, and we found that people who knew how to read weren't the type of investor we needed to attract.”

Too bad Bird and Beyer are broke, huh Sable? They sound like they're just the type Sullivan was looking for.

Sable young, very active and puppy-like. She is a lurcher (greyhound mix) who is a little more like a coon hound than a greyhound. She was rescued from an Ohio dog pound that is a kill shelter. She is more of a doggy-dog than a retired race dog. She is fun loving, affectionate, and playful. She is an active girl who enjoys running and playing in the yard. She is very sweet. She really enjoys a good rub down. She will approach and give kisses, especially if she thinks she has done something wrong. There is a woodpile in the backyard. Sable will carry the logs around with her - they are in 1-foot pieces for the fire pit outside. She steals the wood out of the fire pit. She plays with it and chews on it. It looks very funny. She also likes to pick up long sticks when on walks through the park. She is very trainable and likes to learn. Sable would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 10 and up. She is good with other dogs and she would probably be fine as an only dog. She’s very playful, so if she is going to be in a home with another dog, the other dog needs to be willing to play. She would be a fun dog for older active kids to play with. She would do well in a home with a large yard where she could run and play or with someone who would like a running partner. 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.