Dog racing is illegal in 42 states
In forty-two U.S. states, commercial dog racing is illegal.
In seven states, all dog tracks have closed and ceased live racing, but a prohibitory statute has yet to be enacted. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, and Wisconsin. 1
Pari-mutuel dog racing remains legal and operational in just one state: West Virginia
A greyhound dies following a collision at a U.S. track. (Tri-State Greyhound Park)
Puppies are bred for racing at a breeding farm in Kansas. (Blue Too Kennel)
Bs Sodbuster died of a heart attack racing in West Virginia. (Greyhound-Data)
Colton was born on a greyhound breeding farm in the U.S. (Jacobs Racing)
Racing greyhounds are caged for 20-23 hours per day in the US. (Pima County Animal Care Center)
A greyhound at a breeding farm in the United States. (Jacobs Racing)
A greyhound dies following a collision at a U.S. track. (Tri-State Greyhound Park)
Puppies are bred for racing at a breeding farm in Kansas. (Blue Too Kennel)
Bs Sodbuster died of a heart attack racing in West Virginia. (Greyhound-Data)
Colton was born on a greyhound breeding farm in the U.S. (Jacobs Racing)
Racing greyhounds are caged for 20-23 hours per day in the US. (Pima County Animal Care Center)
A greyhound at a breeding farm in the United States. (Jacobs Racing)
The following are the most recent states to pass legislation prohibiting dog racing: Maine (1993), Virginia (1995), Vermont (1995), Idaho (1996), Washington (1996), Nevada (1997), North Carolina (1998), Pennsylvania (2004), Massachusetts (2010), Rhode Island (2010), New Hampshire (2010), Colorado (2014), Arizona (2016), Florida (2018) and Oregon (2022). The United States Territory of Guam also outlawed commercial dog racing in 2010.
Since our formation in 2001, the dog racing industry has suffered catastrophic decline. Altogether, forty-six US tracks have ended dog racing and most have closed entirely: St. Croix Meadows (WI), Pueblo Greyhound Park (CO), Apache Greyhound Park (AZ), Multnomah Greyhound Park (OR), Plainfield Greyhound Park (CT), Geneva Lakes Kennel Club (WI), Post Time (CO), Shoreline Star (CT), Cloverleaf Kennel Club (CO), Jacksonville Kennel Club (FL), Tampa Greyhound Park (FL), Wichita Greyhound Park (KS), Corpus Christi (TX), Mile High (CO), The Woodlands (KS), Hinsdale Greyhound Park (NH), The Lodge at Belmont (NH), Seabrook Greyhound Park (NH), Wonderland Greyhound Park (MA), Guam Greyhound Park (Guam), Phoenix Greyhound Park (AZ), Raynham Park (MA), Dairyland Greyhound Park (WI), Twin River (RI), VictoryLand (AL), Jefferson County Kennel Club (FL), Bluffs Run (IA), Tucson Greyhound Park (AZ), Mobile Greyhound Park (AL), Melbourne Greyhound Park (FL), Hollywood Greyhound Park (FL), Flagler Greyhound Track (FL), Pensacola Greyhound Track (FL), Valley Race Park (TX), Sarasota Greyhound Track (FL), Ebro Greyhound Park (FL), Daytona Beach Kennel Club (FL), Sanford Orlando Kennel Club (FL), Birmingham Race Course (AL), Naples-Ft. Myers Greyhound Track (FL), Gulf Greyhound Park (TX), Orange Park Kennel Club (FL), Derby Lane (FL), Palm Beach Kennel Club (FL), Iowa Greyhound Park and Southland Park (AR).
In addition to live dog racing, greyhound simulcast betting exists in several states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.2 In these states, gamblers are supporting the dog racing industry even though there is no active dog track in their community. Similarly, these simulcast signals depend on the existence of dog tracks in other states.
GREY2K USA Worldwide released the first comprehensive report on the humane and economic aspects of greyhound racing in the United States.
Read our report for an in-depth look inside this cruel industry.
What is wrong with greyhound racing?
Greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane and there is no place for it in the modern era. When it first emerged in the United States in the early 20th century, supporters did not know that hundreds of thousands of dogs would suffer and die.
Since then, our society has evolved and dog racing is out of sync with society’s values toward animals. Today, this kind of wasteful and needless suffering is rejected as a form of gambling or entertainment. According to government records now available, common racing injuries include broken necks and broken backs, dislocations, torn muscles and paralysis. Electrocutions have also occurred when dogs make contact with a track’s high voltage lure. Some dogs die on the racetrack while others are put down due to the severity of their injuries or simply because of their diminished value as racers
Are dogs injured in greyhound racing?
Yes. At dog tracks nationwide, greyhounds routinely suffer serious injuries. From January 2008 through April 2018, a total of 15,273 greyhound injuries have been documented. The most commonly reported injury was a broken leg. Other injuries included head trauma, electrocution and broken backs.
At two West Virginia dog tracks, 8,159 greyhound injuries were reported between January 2008 and March 2018, including at least 398 dogs that died or were euthanized.
At Southland Greyhound Park in Arkansas, 1,148 greyhound injuries were reported between January 2008 and April 2018, including at least 35 dogs that died or were euthanized.
At Iowa Greyhound Park, 416 greyhound injuries were reported between January 2008 and October 2017, including at least 29 dogs that died or were euthanized.
Greyhound racing nearing its end in the US after long slide
There are only 17 dog tracks remaining in the U.S. today, 11 of which are located in Florida until they are forced to close by December 31, 2020.