Friday Hound Blogging

Oh bummer. Looks like another bad week for the overlords.

The decision by two New Hampshire racetracks to suspend their greyhound races leaves just one track in the state to watch live races. The move by The Lodge at Belmont and Seabrook Greyhound Park to abandon live dog racing this year doesn't necessarily spell the end of greyhound contests in New Hampshire. (The state's only other racetrack, at Rockingham Park in Salem, hosts harness racing and does not run dog races.) But it is a reflection of the waning popularity of live racing in New Hampshire and New England.

OK, so greyhound racing isn't over, but the only track where it could happen isn't doing it. Now, we don't want to jump to any conclusions here, but that just can't be good. So what's the problem?

Track owners say they decided to drop their live racing dates because the costs of hosting those races aren't offset by the wagering activity they attract. Bets on live races accounted for $3.1 million of the $181.5 million wagered at the state's racetracks last year. One of those tracks, the Hinsdale Greyhound Park, closed and declared bankruptcy in December.

Well, bankruptcy does have a way of cutting into your profits. Looks like that's a wrap then, huh? We mean, where you going to find anyone stupid enough to back a business with such bleak prospects?

Greyhound tracks are folding across the country, but in cash-strapped Rhode Island - where the unemployment rate is among the nation's worst - lawmakers are betting on the dogs to save jobs. Lawmakers have moved to force a bankrupt, state-licensed slot parlor to run 200 days of live racing at its greyhound track even though current law only requires 125.

OK, now we're not econometrical professionals or anything, but if no one is coming to the track in 125 days and you make them stay open 75 more days when no one comes, won't that increase their costs, and reduce profits even further, resulting in, oh we don't know...layoffs? Just asking.

The move bucks a national trend away from greyhound racing. In the last year alone, Massachusetts voters passed a ballot question banning greyhound racing. New Hampshire's two remaining greyhound tracks won state permission last month to end live racing after waning interest from bettors. About 30 tracks remain nationwide, down from a peak of about 55 in the early 1990s, said Gary Guccione, executive director of the Kansas-based National Greyhound Association.

Ouch. Come on now, there has to be a bright spot somewhere. After all, everybody can't get accepted to Walmart Greeter School. Isn't there even a slight glimmer of hope?

After being closed for about a year and a half, what was once known as the Corpus Christi Greyhound Racetrack opened its doors again. A grand opening was held Friday for the Gulf Coast Race Track.

Hooray! Finally some good news. Man, just in time too. We've said it be fore and we'll say it again, it's hard out here for an overlord. Whew! So, fill us in, what are the particulars?

Efforts are currently underway to bring live dog races back as well.

We're sorry. What did you say?

"We don't have any live dogs as of yet, that's hopefully in the future. Sometime next year, we'll look into a live racing schedule," Gulf Coast Racing's Ricardo Pimentel said.

Yeah. Ah, so you've opened a Greyhound Racetrack...except without the greyhounds. What are we missing here Bo?

Bo is relaxed and reserved. He wants pets, and will stand up close until you notice him. Bo would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 10 and up. He is good with other dogs and would probably be good as an only dog. 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.