Oct 6, 2007 8:04 pm US/Eastern
Florida Greyhound Tracks Losing Gamblers' Favor
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MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Slot machines are just one of the things competing with dog tracks for the attention of gamblers
CBS
The sport of queens isn't getting the royal treatment anymore, as greyhound racing across the state which made it famous is drawing fewer fans every year, one reason why South Florida greyhound tracks fought for the right to offer other forms of gambling
Like the landmark Derby Lane greyhound track in St. Petersburg, dog tracks around the country are losing ground in the competition for the casual gambler, as increased availability of slot machines, state lotteries with huge payouts, and off track betting in many states have given people other places to spend their gambling dollars.
Derby Lane is the oldest continuously operating dog track in the world. It used to draw around 10,000 people for weekend night races at the height of the tourist season. Now it gets just a few thousand for the same performances.
In South Florida, similar declines have been seen at tracks in Miami and Hollywood, with Hollywood's track virtually abandoning racing in it's advertising, concentrating instead on the casino added last year under new state laws.
Florida remains the epicenter of greyhound racing. It's home to 13 tracks still operating at least part of the year, but many are in trouble.
In Miami, Flagler Greyhound Track is offering poker as a draw, after Miami-Dade voters did not follow Broward voters and allow racing facilities like Greyhound and Horse racing tracks to offer slot machines.
Opponents of greyhound racing have fought to block casino gambling at greyhound tracks, recently winning a preliminary barrel in a court case to set aside the constitutional amendment which allowed some greyhound tracks to offer gambling.
The greyhound rights activists say the tracks abuse the dogs, and believe most casino gambling artificially keeps struggling tracks alive.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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