Dog racing industry decline worsens

LAS VEGAS, March 22 (UPI) -- Greyhound racing leaders were meeting in Las Vegas Monday amid what they called a further slide into oblivion for the industry.

The U.S. Association of Racing Commissioners has found that wagering on U.S. greyhound races declined from $3.5 billion in 1991 to $1.1 billion in 2007 -- a 68 percent drop, with more than half of the tracks existing in the late 1980s and early 1990s having closed, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

Jan Jones, senior vice president of communications and government relations for Harrah's Entertainment, told the newspaper things are so bad the company is trying to convince Iowa lawmakers to outlaw its own dog racing business and is willing to pay the state $7 million per year for the privilege.

"We're losing money and the state is losing money," Jones said. "And we're not seeing a lot of young customers getting into greyhound racing."

Attendance at the American Greyhound Track Owners Association convention at Caesars Palace was expected to be about 120, another new low, the report said.

Participants partly blamed the advent of state-sanctioned casinos across the United States and changing attitudes about animal cruelty for the decline, the Sun said.