Tucson Region

Casinos put dog tracks on the skids

Attendance at greyhound race tracks has plummeted as Indian gaming has risen, and some racing experts fear the drop in wagering equates to a diminished concern for the well-being of the dogs. Both attendance and wagering at Tucson Greyhound Park have dropped by 60 percent in the last 15 years, according to annual reports from the Arizona Department of Racing. Park officials declined interview requests from the Arizona Daily Star this week. Less money coming in means fewer dollars may be spent caring for dogs. With an average of 34,000 greyhounds a year bred in the United States, it is cheaper and quicker to replace a racing dog than to give it time to recuperate from an injury, said Susan Netboy, president of the California-based Greyhound Protection League, an anti-racing organization. "When people aren't making much money off the dogs … there's no incentive to keep those dogs in good condition because there are so many other dogs they can bring in to take their place." Greyhounds typically start racing at 18 months and stay competitive until age 5 or 6, but many dogs now are washed up by 2 or 3, she said. "In most cases they're well-kept animals, but … if someone does the wrong thing, economics might be a part of it," said Doug Reed, director of the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program, which prepares students to work on the business side and animal care aspect of dog and horse racing. At any given time there are about 800 dogs in Tucson to race. Turnover at the track is so high that at least 500 dogs need homes each year. Last month a trainer was sanctioned when eight dogs from Tucson Greyhound Park died of heatstroke as they were being driven to a racetrack in Mexico in an overcrowded and poorly air-conditioned truck. And two weeks ago, 76 retired racers were seized from a flea-infested South Side kennel leased by the track. Racing revenues down

Other forms of gambling have taken a large chunk of the greyhound racing business. Attendance at Tucson Greyhound Park fell by almost 35,000 people, or nearly 15 percent, within a year of the opening of Desert Diamond Casino and Casino of the Sun in the mid-1990s, state Racing Department reports show. Average race-day wagering during the same period fell $34,000, more than 32 percent. Exacerbating the slide were voter-approved compacts in 2003 that let tribes add more gaming machines.

The national decline in wagering isn't as severe, partly because many races now are simulcast at multiple tracks, said Rob Christmas, managing coordinator for the American Greyhound Track Operators Association. Nationwide, wagering dropped 6 percent in a decade, to $2.98 billion in 2003.

Tracks that are thriving also have other forms of gaming, such as card rooms, slot machines and video lottery, said Eric Wilson, president of the American Greyhound Track Operators Association. "The problem that pari-mutuel industry has - not only greyhound tracks, but horse tracks - is, the demographics of our industry are changing," Wilson said. Young people want a gambling experience that involves computer technology, he said. "The industry is going to have to come up with some sort of methodology to incorporate that type of technology into the industry," he said. Concern for the dogs

A continued decrease in revenue will affect the level of care dogs receive and the conditions in which the tracks are maintained, some greyhound advocates said. Poorly maintained tracks can result in an increase of career-ending injuries for dogs. Minor variations in the sand and dirt can cause broken toes and hocks and torn muscles, said Lorri Tracy, president of the Tucson-based Greyhound Adoption League. Reconfiguring the track can reduce injuries, too, she said. A track such as Tucson's, with a longer front stretch, gives dogs more time to build up speed before hitting their first turn. On that first turn, Tracy and Netboy agree, dogs sometimes bump each other and injure themselves. "The injuries aren't life-threatening - it's like a broken toe or something - but it prevents them from racing," said Marana greyhound breeder and trainer David Blair. There is no problem with the condition of the Tucson track itself that could increase injuries to the dogs, said Mike Brimmer, chief steward in Tucson for the Arizona Department of Racing. The track is continually monitored for potential problems. "We walk the track every night," he said. "If we're not satisfied with it, if we feel it's not safe for the dogs, we have them do more work on it." Still, anti-greyhound activist Netboy calls the track "low-grade" - a description that is no surprise to Paul Custead, a kennel owner and trainer at Tucson Greyhound Park. "In the world of racing, Tucson is down here," he said, gesturing with his hands. "If they (greyhounds) can't make it in Tucson, they become pets." That's one reason Tucson has so many retired racers in need of homes, Blair said. "If a dog can't compete in Phoenix, he comes here," Blair said. "When he comes here, there's really no place else for him to go except home." The track helps fund adoption programs, said Blair, who works with Tucson-based Arizona Greyhound Rescue and a half dozen other groups to place dogs in homes. But he'd like to see more done. If injuries could be minimized, he said, dogs would have longer careers on the track, resulting in fewer retired racers in need of homes. Licensing of trainers and kennel operators and regulatory bodies such as the Arizona Department of Racing are in place, to keep the industry in check, the UA's Reed said. Those checks remain in place despite a decline in winnings, which include payouts of bets and the purse won by winning racers. "You cannot presume that just because the purse structure is low that the conditions present at those tracks have diminished," said Christmas, of the Track Operators Association. "It's the people that can make the difference as to how safe the track conditions are and it's the people that make sure the greyhounds are safe and well cared for."