Nov 5, 2008 6:07 pm US/Eastern
What's Next For Greyhound Race Tracks?
RAYNHAM (WBZ) ―
Massachusetts voters have decided to shut down the state's two greyhound race tracks with 56 percent of voters approving Question 3 on Tuesday's election ballot.
The people who rely on the race tracks are now trying to figure out what happens next.
Since 1942, the
Raynham Park has been raising greyhounds. On Wednesday, the track's owner, George Carney, told his employees they may be out of a job by 2010 under Question 3.
Carney says voters were swayed by anti-racing organizations like the MSPCA.
"The MSPCA has never been here once, they've never complained once," Carney said.
Several groups argued that
greyhound racing is inhumane and that greyhounds are routinely injured during races, including broken legs, paralysis and even death from cardiac arrest.
"They've done nothing for the greyhounds," said track employee Laraine Nickerson. "Racing will still continue. They'll just take it out of Massachusetts. It will just go to other states where it's less regulated than in Massachusetts."
The approval of Question 3 means some
700 jobs could be lost.
But Rep. David Flynn (D) Bridgewater says he is going to push Gov. Deval Patrick to replace the dogs with slot machines at the race tracks.
"Everyday we don't have slots costs the Commonwealth $1 million a day," Flynn said.
Besides the move to replace dogs with slot machines, there will also likely be very strong legal challenges to shutting down the race tracks.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments