1. Contributing Member States:
Summer Meeting 2017
Westin Downtown
Denver, CO
Contributing Member States:
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania & Texas
Save the Date: NCLGS Winter Meeting 2018 January 5-7, Hyatt Regency, Miami, FL

3. GREYHOUND RACING TODAY

4. The Sport
Live racing--20 tracks in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Texas, West Virginia, Mexico
Handle in Florida alone: ~$240 mil in
Factors causing shrinkage of live racing
Competition (racinos, tribal casinos, simulcasting, online gaming options)
Culture change/entertainment preferences
Note: While attendance at live racing has gone down, wagering of greyhound races via simulcasting has increased (FGA website).
Regarding culture change/entertainment preferences, technology has had huge impact. People want fast, hand-held action, high-tech, lots of bells and whistles. Horse and dog racing in some boat in this regard.

5. The Players AGTOA Track operators—education, advocacy (20 tracks) NGA
Owners, kennel operators—education, advocacy, farm/kennel regulation, official registry (1,200 owners)
AGC
Joint program—greyhound welfare, adoption

6. More about the AGC Greyhound welfare Veterinary education
Farm inspections
Crisis management/intervention
Lifetime expulsion for violators
Veterinary education
“Care” textbook
Seminars/sponsored presentations
Farm inspections: unannounced, random
Crisis management/intervention: Arkansas example, where industry intervened, evacuated greyhounds, banned owner, placed all greyhounds in adoptive homes or returned them to their owners (see our AGC news release on website, 2014)

7. Greyhound Adoption National success story
More than 95% of all racing greyhounds adopted or returned to farm at retirement
More than $1.3 million in grants to over 300 adoption groups nationwide over 20 years
Most adoption groups “racing-neutral” to foster constructive working relationships w/ industry

8. The Animal Rights Challenge
Propaganda, misinformation instead of facts
Lack of knowledge of industry, greyhounds
Reliance on “bad news” to raise funds
Financial ties to HSUS, other radical AR groups
Prioritization of political warfare over animal welfare (hostility to adoption programs that work with industry)
Example of lack of knowledge of greyhounds: AR-driven requirement that Tucson greyhounds must be outdoors in 100-plus temperatures for at least six hours a day (not good for the dogs).
Financial ties to HSUS: HSUS has been big funder of Grey2K’s “ban” campaigns in Massachusetts and other locations. Major funder of their lobbying campaigns in Florida and West Virginia. HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle said a few years back, “We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals; one generation and out.”

9. The Challenge for Legislators
Get the facts from both sides before drafting or voting on legislation
Demand sourcing/verification of outrageous claims
Reject demonization of entire industry based on claims of those with agenda
If needed, address legitimate animal welfare issues through constructive dialogue (veterinary-based solutions)

10. Thank You! Jim Gartland jimg@ngagreyhounds.com
Executive Director, National Greyhound Association
Communications Coordinator, American Greyhound Council

12. DONALD SMITH D.V.M.

18. 13 JOBS ARE GENERATED IN THE ECONOMY FOR EVERY HORSE IN TRAINING AT A RACETRACK

19. MANY HORSES REQUIRED TO RUN RACE MEET
EXPENSIVE TO TRAIN A HORSE…$2500 A MONTH?
HORSERACING DEPENDS ON HORSE OWNERS
GOAL:
KEEP HORSES HEALTHY, COMPETITIVE, ECONOMICAL

20. EIPH EXERCISE INDUCED PULMONARY HEMORRHAGE WIDESPREAD
DELETERIOUS TO HORSE’S HEALTH
CAREER SHORTENING

21. SALIX aka LASIX (furosemide)
EFFECTIVIELY REDUCES THE SEVERITY OF EIPH
SAFE
INEXPENSIVE
SHORT ACTING
WELL REGULATED
SAVES LIVES AND EXTENDS CAREERS

24. A tale of two industries
National Council of Legislators from Gaming States Summer Meeting
Special Committee Session of Pari-Mutuels
June 9, 2017
Carey Theil, Executive Director

25. About GREY2K USA
Non-profit organization formed in 2001 with a mission to pass greyhound protection laws, phase out dog racing and promote greyhound adoption
Led the passage of 17 major greyhound protection laws, including dog
racing prohibitions
in five states
Winner of the 2017
Care2 Annual
Impact Award

26. Racing Industry Faces Challenges
Competition from other forms of gambling
Demographic changes: customers dying out and not being replaced
Public concern about
animal welfare issues

27. Why Has Horse Racing Weathered the Storm Better Than Dog Racing?

28. Horse Racing Leaders Acknowledge Need for Change
“Elimination of race day medication is an essential part of these needed rules. Horsemanship has taken a back seat to veterinary and medication use and abuse. It seems that our sport has taken a wrong turn and it will take drastic measures to get back on track.” - Jeffrey Begg, Windways Farm Ltd. “We must, as an industry, adopt a drug free racing stance. Our continuing use of medication in our horses not only compromises their safety and the safety of our jockeys, it compromises our pedigrees long term and leaves our industry with no integrity whatsoever.” - Carol Ahearn, Rebah Farm

29. Greyhound Industry Resists Change, Instead Attacks Critics
“Keep pressing grey2k - force them into defense mode - do not allow them to play offense. Make them spend time and resources defending themselves instead of attacking the industry.”
- Rory Goree, former President of GPA
Greyhound industry opposes injury reporting in Florida
NGA opposes Florida bill to prohibit the use of anabolic steroids in greyhound racing
Greyhound industry files lawsuit to strike down Seminole County, Florida Greyhound Protection ordinance
Continued use of 4-D meat despite FDA warnings & illness cases

30. Dog Racing Industry Out of Touch (Findings of 2010 AZ Survey)
61% of voters say dog racing “not important” as an industry in terms of creating jobs
81% of voters more likely to support outlawing dog racing because of greyhound confinement
80% of voters more likely to support outlawing dog racing because of injuries dogs suffer
76% of voters more likely to
support outlawing dog racing
because female greyhounds are
given anabolic steroids

31. “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” - Leon C. Megginson

32. Questions?