Bill To Scratch All Racing Dogs Rounds Final Turn
TALLHASSEE (CBS4) -- Animal lovers who want to see an end to dog racing in Florida are a step closer to the goal with passage Tuesday in the House Finance and Tax Committee of a bill that would let dog tracks keep poker rooms, but not have to run the dogs.
Backers of the measure, which includes some track owners, say the tracks make their money from the card rooms anyway, so why have the races? But the law requires the greyhound licenses.
"Look, these have become poker rooms that happen to have some dogs running around in circles – with no one in the grandstands," said Carey Theil, director of Grey2K USA, which has pushed to end racing.
Passage in Finance and Tax on a 21-2 vote with Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, and Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, against. Rep. Pat Rooney, R-Palm Beach Gardens, didn't vote, because he is president of a dog track, the Palm Beach Kennel Club.
While the bill appears to be gaining broad support, and greyhound racing appears to be in decline, there are still breeders who work in the industry who fear its passage.
Jack Cory, a lobbyist for the breeders, said if it passes, 300 people would lose their jobs and it would cost the economy $50 million.
The measure (HB 1145) by Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa, now goes to House Economic Affairs. A Senate version (SB 1954) is scheduled to be heard in Senate Finance and Tax on Wednesday.
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