Resumption of racing in Texas a win for global greyhound village

GREYHOUND racing is set to recommence in the American state of Texas after the sport was suspended at the end of 2015.

Racing will resume after track owners and dog breeders reached an agreement which will see condensed carnivals of events held at a variety of venues over the next two years.

The first lot of meetings will be held between November and February at the Valley Race Park located in Harlingen in South Texas. During this period there will be a total of 360 races run and won with a total prize money purse of US $2.2 million.

In late 2017, racing will be conducted at the Gulf Greyhound Park in La Marque between November and February 2018.

Greyhound racing was last run in Texas at the Gulf Greyhound Park in late 2015, with racing suspended due to competition from casinos in Louisiana, paired with rising costs and the inability to get an expansion on the type of betting which is authorised at the tracks.

However, in April, the Texas Racing Commission, which regulates dog racing and within the state, approved the agreement to see the two tracks hold a new schedule of racing over the next two years.

While not directly related to Australia, the news is a massive boost for greyhound racing enthusiasts worldwide who are still coming to terms with the shock announcement that the sport will be banned in New South Wales as of July 1, 2017.

The decision was announced by NSW Premier on July 7, 2016, following the release of the Special Commission of report tabled by Justice Michael McHugh.

Baird and Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Troy Grant have since been slammed for the decision, having announced the ban prior to the appearing before the NSW Parliament.

Baird and Grant will be aiming to pass the legislation at the next meeting of the assembly on August 2, however several MPs as well as the NSW Labor Party have already voiced their disapproval for the ban which would make it illegal to breed, own or train greyhounds within the state.

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DaveSampson75
DaveSampson75
7 years ago

So let me get this straight, you condemn Mike Baird for making a tiny reference in a huge document to a canadian study, yet here you are trumpeting something that happens in the US. It has NO relevance to Australia. We know that because you told us that stuff that happens in the US has no relevance to the Australian scene, surely you’re not complete hypocrites right? Hoisted on your own petard …

Gye4
Gye4
7 years ago

DaveSampson75

DaveSampson75

Gye4
Gye4
7 years ago

Dave …both the reference on page 1 of in the Special Commission report and the factthat Texas is resuming racing highlight mistruths coming from those on theanti-racing side of this argument. If they have no relevance to Australianracing, why were Ernie’s comments used in the report and why has the supposeddemise of racing in the US been used by anti-racing groups to justify thedecision to close down racing here ?

DaveSampson75
DaveSampson75
7 years ago

Gye4 Ahh so because the report from Texas goes in your favour, now suddenly its relevant to include the US in the debate. Yet when it wasnt you wouldnt hear of it. Which is it Gye4? Do we accept ALL reports from the US and make them relevant to our situation or don’t we? Before we even start I need you to answer the question, is anything related to greyhound racing in North America relevant to Australia, because from that we can then begin the debate. So answer that question first.

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

DaveSampson75  Firstly Dave, there is a very big difference between “Ernie” surname not supplied therefore a difficult reference for anyone else to verify( from 11 years ago) and the state of Texas reintroducing greyhound racing which was not suspended because of cruelty issues but economics. The anti lobby constantly and I mean constantly use the argument that greyhound racing is only practised in a few countries therefore it shows that it should be banned here. Greyhound racing has only ever been in a relatively small number of countries. This argument that not many countries have greyhound racing therefore we should ban it does… Read more »

DaveSampson75
DaveSampson75
7 years ago

Deborah555 DaveSampson75The fact that we have people demonising anyone who likes greyhound racing despite never having even met a greyhound trainer” … dumbest argument ever. I dont have to meet a paedophile to know touching kiddies is wrong. I dont have to eat dog crap to know it tastes bad. Meeting a greyhound trainer has NOTHING to do with this debate. 68,000 dogs dead, lets deal with the facts, not Joe Bloggs and his two dogs in Grafton.

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

DaveSampson75 Deborah555  Dave an argument does not automatically become dumb just because it is different to yours. Once you start declaring people who think differently to you are “dumb” or their arguments are stupid you are letting your emotions rather than reason cloud your judgement. Despite Hugh not agreeing with anything I say he has never resorted to insults or questioning my intelligence. He is highly intelligent and argues in a rational and highly intelligent way and I believe he is sincere. I am quite happy to listen to his views. Once however people start with the stupid, carrying on about… Read more »

lone widow
lone widow
7 years ago

Deborah555 DaveSampson75 It’s a waste of time and effort engaging with people that have been brain washed as the Animal Rights Movement have done to so many.

Look at ‘Mein Kampf’.

FredBarton
FredBarton
7 years ago

I wouldn’t read too much into the fact that racing will start again, in a limited capacity, in Texas. Racing has essentially died in Texas and this sputtering attempt at a return is more about state politics than any supposed revival of the industry. Look for it to die out again just as quickly as it seemed to come back. I am currently a Board member of Grey2KUSA Worldwide, an organization that fights to save these marvelous creatures all over the globe (You can learn more about us here: http://www.grey2kusa.org). I have fostered and adopted rescued racing greyhounds since 1995.… Read more »

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

I thought your efforts had resulted in some very impressive rehoming statistics. I am happy to listen to the views of anyone who is motivated by a love of greyhounds which you appear to be. Lets not lose sight of the fact though that in NSW most of the people who give a home to a dog after it’s racing career has finished are the owners and trainers themselves. Many people in the industry give homes for life to their dogs and the vast majority keep a dog for as long as they can afford to feed them. I am… Read more »

JeffWhite4
JeffWhite4
7 years ago

DaveSampson75 Gye4 *crickets*