Philippine opponents win a hold on greyhound racing with help of Massachusetts allies

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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2009:

 

 

Philippine opponents win a " hold " on greyhound racing with help of

Massachusetts allies

 

MANILA--The Philippine House of Representatives on September

7, 2009 " agreed to hold in abeyance its approval of a second

franchise for greyhound dog racing after animal protection groups

prevailed upon the Senate to defer action on the first franchise, "

reported Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Romblon representative Eleandro Jesus Madrona " said the House

was forced to make the move after seven senators vowed to block the

introduction of greyhound racing in the country because it is

'immoral' and 'cruel to animals,' " Cabacungan wrote. The Philippine

House approved the nation's first greyhound racing franchise in

December 2008.

Actually, " Thirteen Senators sent pledges to vote no to the

introduction of greyhound racing in the Philippines, " e-mailed Anna

Nieves Cabrera of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society. Cabrera

added special thanks to Senator Jamby Madrigal and Cardinal Ricardo

J.Vidal of Cebu for helping to lead the campaign, and to the

Massachusetts-based anti-greyhound racing organization Grey 2K, for

rallying supprt beyond the Philippines.

Other groups backing the campaign included the Animal Kingdom

Foundation, Feathered Friends, Compassion And Responsibility for

Animals, and PETA/Asia.

" I am not only against animal cruelty but against gambling as

well, " said Madrigal, who took her greyhound Prasad with her to

speaking appearances and press conferences.

Grey 2K on September 18, 2009 celebrated the suspension of

live racing at the Valley Greyhound Park in Texas and the last day of

racing at the Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere, Massachusetts.

Opened in 1935, Wonderland was both the oldest and last greyhound

track in the state, where voters in November 2008 banned greyhound

racing, effective at the end of 2009.

The Belmont, Rockingham, and Seabrook greyhound tracks in

New Hampshire were authorized by the June 2009 state budget bill to

drop all live racing and operate exclusively as simulcast betting

parlors.

The Twin River track in Rhode Island closed on August 8,

2009. The owners filed for bankruptcy in July 2009, after they were

not allowed to offer gambling without live racing. " We will now

introduce legislation to end dog racing as a matter of law, " said

Grey 2K cofounder Christine Dorchak.

Greyhound racing continues in the U.S. only in Alabama,

Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Texas, West Virginia, and

Wisconsin. Greyhound racing remains legal in Kansas, with three

licensed tracks, but the Camptown Greyhound Park has not run a race

since 2000, the Wichita Greyhound Park quit live racing in 2007,

and The Woodlands quit in 2008. " The state racing commission on

September 11, 2009 decided to give the owners of the three tracks

another 10 months to take steps to reopen their businesses before

they face losing their licenses, " said Associated Press writer John

Hanna. The track owners want the state to let them keep more of the

take from slot machines operated on the premises.

Financially struggling greyhound tracks in Pensacola,

Florida and Mobile, Alabama were in August 2009 purchased by the

Poarch Band of Creek Indians, subject to approval of the National

Indian Gaming Commission. The Poarch Band already operates three

electronic bingo halls. " The tribe in 2006 asked the U.S. Department

of Interior for permission to offer poker games at its facilities in

Alabama, but was denied, " recalled Associated Press writer Bob

Johnson. Buyng the tracks may offer the Poarch Band another way to

enter the poker business, but in Alabama they will be opposed by

anti-gambling Governor Bob Riley, noted Mobile Press Register staff

reporter Ben Raines.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

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