Florida dog racing would be finished under Amendment 13

League of Women Voters of Florida backs proposed change

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – There are no bundled issues in Florida Amendment 13. The anti-dog racing amendment would prohibit one thing: Wagering on all live dog races in Florida including Greyhound races.

Florida has an estimated a dozen of the 18 dog tracks still operating in the United States, making it the unofficial mecca of dog-track racing.

If Amendment 13 receives a 60 percent "yes" vote on Election Day pari-mutuel gambling sites would no longer be able to host dog racing after Dec. 31, 2020.

League of Women Voters of Florida President Patricia Brigham told News 6 the league supports the proposed state amendment measure because the league opposes all gambling.

“People think this will just ban greyhound racing,” Brigham said. “It will ban the betting on greyhound racing.”

The underlying intent of the amendment is to protect racing dogs from injury and alleged abuse.

Ironically, opponents of Amendment 13 argue if the racing circuit were to be shut down, hundreds of dogs would have to be euthanized. Brigham said that wouldn't happen because adoption groups would from Europe and the U.S. would step in to find safe homes for the retired greyhounds.

“There are adoption agencies all over the country, overseas and England primarily, whose main job is to rescue these greyhounds from the track,” she said.

Brigham said the amendment would still allow pari-mutuel sports to continue “even though the tracks would no longer be in existence.”

Critics of greyhound racing have long argued that the sport is dangerous to the animals, something that  participants in the racing industry deny.

The "Say No to 13" organization argues the end to dog racing would pave the way to “the largest expansion of gambling in Florida history by turning dog tracks into Vegas-style casinos."


About the Author:

News 6’s Emmy Award-winning Investigative Reporter Mike Holfeld has made Central Florida history with major investigations that have led to new policies, legislative proposals and even -- state and national laws. If you have an issue or story idea, call Mike's office at 407-521-1322.

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