Greyhound races bite dust in New Hampshire
Greyhound racing appears headed for an end in New Hampshire.
The state’s two dog racing tracks won permission yesterday to drop all racing dates.
Paul Kelley, executive director of the state Racing and Charitable Gaming Commission said commissioners approved applications from both the Lodge at Belmont and Seabrook Greyhound Park to cease dog racing and operate solely as simulcast betting centers, and as host to charitable gambling events, the Union Leader reported.
The move comes as a new state budget bill takes effect July 1, allowing tracks to drop their live racing and continue simulcast wagering. The decision could be the end of greyhound racing in the state. A third track, in Hinsdale, closed late last year.
Rick Newman, who represents the Belmont track said the decision was a financial one. “It costs a lot more money to run live racing than we get from it,” he said.
The Grey2K USA group, which fought to end greyhound racing, said the budget bill removed the last reason for tracks to continue dog racing.
Posted by jwoestendiek June 30th, 2009 under Muttsblog.
Tags: belmont, cease, commission, dog racing, end, gambling, greyhound, halted, lodge, new hampshire, racing, seabrook, state, stopped, tracks
