The 2$ Suckers............

 

As a few mourn the end of greyhound racing in Florida, one needs to address the reason and forgo blaming others for the demise that the industry brought upon itself.

I will share some thoughts on couple of items that brought us to modern day, a day when pari-mutuel wagering on greyhound racing is on the verge of extinction in the United States.

1)    Failure to pass the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act:

The industry, through its own actions, was unable to drive the legislation that would have provided it a source of revenue from its own product. In the mid-1970's the industry was exposed on a national level as using live lure aka jacking by the news program 20/20 resulting in passage of the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act being impossible.

The industry was left without income from its own product, but a bone was tossed to them in the form of subsidies from card rooms and casinos.  The tracks are a business and as such are in business to make a profit and needed to find other sources of revenue to maintain a profitable business. Greyhound racing was no longer a must see/must attend form of entertainment for many. The entertainment dollars the tracks relied on suddenly had competition from newer forms of entertainment and chance.

2)   Lottery – Bigtime gamblers:

The lottery also played its part as the small-time gamblers shifted away from the fun, low risk $2 bet to purchasing a fun, low risk $2 lottery ticket that could be had far closer to their homes.  Big money gamblers need a pool of suckers who will blow 2 bucks to prop up the pool and make it a worthwhile to bet big. Each year the big money gamblers have shifted away from greyhound racing or died and with no new people filling their shoes, the track is not making as much on live racing as they once did. The numbers regarding the decline of big money gamblers is eye opening. 

(Note:  big money gambler for the purpose of this blog is defined as someone who bets $100,000 or more a year)

3) Did the subsidies from casinos and card rooms prop up existence?

Without the subsidies from casinos and card rooms, would the tracks even been able to offer more than $15-$30 a point? Even if the Interstate Greyhound Racing Act had passed, would today’s gambling and entertainment environment allow for the tracks to offer decent money for each point solely based on the live racing product? Just a few things to think about.

What is the answer?

 

I sit in amazement at the lack of desire to show the public that greyhound racing wants to repair any negative public perception issue as soon as it crops up. While we hear claims "lies" or "fake videos" or "corruption and payoffs", greyhound racing is silent when there is a serious issue. That said, can there be any surprise that 100% of the Arizona legislature passed a bill to ban pari-mutuel wagering on live greyhound racing in Arizona a few years back or that recently almost 70% of the citizens of Florida voted to ban pari-mutuel wagering on live greyhound racing in Florida.

One would think that would be a 5-alarm call to action to rectify any issue that reflects negatively on greyhound racing. Sadly, burying the collective greyhound racing heads in the sand seems to be the reaction to confronting the issues of negative public perception.

This month a track in Florida held a $100k race. In attendance were numerous individuals from the pro-racing adoption arena as well as photographers from the greyhound adoption world and even those on the front line of the lawsuit to overturn Florida Amendment 13.  All the reports via social media gave the impression the race went off without hitch and lauded the winning dog, kennel, and trainer but not a peep regarding any incidents during the race. Except...a post by a lobby organization which included a video not of the glory but of a disturbing accident in which a greyhound in this $100k race appears to bump another greyhound, then appears to blow its hock and then clearly gets tossed into the railing then tossed back into the track and overrun by another greyhound. 

If history should have taught greyhound racing anything it is that such an incident, especially one that has taken place during a race will be found and publicized, and what makes this newest incident, so glaring is that with so many pro-racing members in attendance and/or posting to social media about this $100k race there is no mention of this greyhound or the accident or the current condition of the greyhound. Sadly, however are many discussions by greyhound supporters on the need to purchase a track and magically reopen a live greyhound racing facility in states that no longer allow pari-mutuel wagering on live greyhound racing. 

If the greyhound racing industry wants the public to believe they care, the pr machine should have been fired up immediately and provided information regarding the condition and location of this greyhound that was possibly injured in such a highly promoted and publicized race. Without such announcements, the public will question what happened to this greyhound and will most likely think the worst. 

 

Without being proactive and honest, the public forms its own conclusions especially when the only mentions come from the anti-racing camp. Any lack of transparency will, in my opinion, make action for the bill in Washington DC to eliminate greyhound racing nationwide easier to pass. Senators and Representatives have previously voted to eliminate greyhound racing at state levels and now that such a bill is in DC, their views on greyhound racing will most likely stay the same.

 

I have been involved with greyhounds on many levels for almost 30 years. I have seen racing accidents where the greyhound was no worse for the experience, where the greyhound suffered a career ending injury and sadly where a greyhound lost its life. So, can anyone provide the answer to the question the public would like to know - what happened to and where is Thrill U?

Time to Retire?

When an active racing greyhound no longer has the speed or their skills have diminished, the greyhound is retired and placed in adoption.

From the beginning I’ve been very concerned that SWA (as well as its previous incarnation) would fail simply due to the skill set of the main players. When attempting to mount a successful politically oriented mission, the leadership team must be prepared to ask and answer the hard questions, ready to make the hard decisions and willing to be honest and fully transparent with contributors and supporters. Many ridiculed myself and others (and I know still do) for being blunt about SWA. Diehard supporters’ usual response was "well at least they are trying/doing something" and "f*** you".

Every year at the beginning of the sports season, regardless if it is NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL, we know that certain teams just won’t make it to the playoffs for the simple reason that they just don’t have the leadership and players with the proper skill set to win. Sorry to those who have been continually offended by the honesty over the last few months, but isn't it time to stop buying into the SWA impossible dream and allow them to retire because it is my honest opinion that as long as their leadership remains the same, they are doomed to fail.

I would also like to address a comment made on Facebook by a “humane advocate protector” - SWA was not operating as the greyhound racing industry. SWA was a very limited small group with a worthy but unrealistic goal. The attempt to overturn Florida Amendment 13 in Florida was not an expertly organized and well thought out plan by the greyhound industry working as a whole.

Is it time for SWA to retire? Is it time for all those supporting them to start not only asking questions about the continued failed attempts, but demand a shakeup of leadership and question exactly how much more will be asked for in donations to fulfill their dream? I have an idea...if SWA leadership is going for the goal, their leadership should wholly fund their next phase and allow donation dollars that are in short supply in the greyhound community to assist the greyhounds being retired in record numbers due to continuing track closures, to say nothing of those greyhounds still on the farms?

Rumble & Sway

Greyhound racing needs to craft a simple yet grabbing message. Social media posts continue to imply that there are no funds to use for public relations as select committees choose to use (waste?) money for court, creation of an effective, unified statement of purpose that speaks to all and not just the choir continues to be nonexistent.

Those who are against greyhound racing have a 20-year head start of crafting a concise message that does their job in only 4 words - “greyhound racing is inhumane”. Their message is clear on what they want the public to believe first and foremost.

The challenge for all who want to participate - tell the world in 2 sentences why greyhound racing is not inhumane.

Then write another 2 sentences as to why greyhound racing is great.

Maybe we will be able to craft a simple message that will resonate with the public and grabs hold of their attention.

As another message tells us in less than 4 words - JUST DO IT!

The Blame Game

I recently thought to myself that maybe if the greyhound industry would take a long hard look in the mirror they would face the problem and realize that if a drastic change was not made, it is over. Would the November result at last be the wake-up call to take on the challenge of doing things differently?

This morning I feel nothing has changed.  

The greyhound industry is back to pointing fingers at everyone but itself.
The horseman did it.
The activists did it.
The voters did it.

Just once, will anyone ask the questions that may lead to success going forward?

Did failed leadership do it?
Could using an often unpalatable, out of control, color by number talking head as the media face have done it?
Did the inability to stand behind one message/one organization/one hashtag do it?
Did living in the comfort zone do it?
Was not realizing it is about the greyhounds the beginning of the end?

Sadly, without strong qualified leadership, committees that understand politics, experienced media relations and the ability and desire to build trust and alliances with others, the greyhound industry is doomed to repeat the failures it has come accustomed to. Unless the industry is willing to do the deep dive look at itself, select a leader with real qualities, build a winning message and a winning team, the only thing really left to do is decide who will turn the lights out.

For years the greyhound industry laughed at the activists, hiding from social media and refusing to pull back the curtain which opened the door for the activists to run with a winning message, court political leaders, fund war chests and develop the necessary cross team relationships that would guarantee the elimination of the racing greyhound.

Are you willing to change and do what is necessary to save the greyhound industry and put the dogs first or will it be more of the blame game on everyone but ourselves?

What’s in a Name…….

Name recognition is a number one item for many corporations and politicians. In the greyhound world, it is equally important. Greyhound Pets of America for instance has built up a name recognition over the years as being a leader in greyhound welfare, placement and speaking truthfully. Under the Greyhound Pets of America banner over 90,000 ex-racing greyhounds have found homes.

Greyhound Pets of America is also commonly called GPA and has been known by and associated with those letters since 1987.

While it is understandable that in the course of 30 years, several GPA chapters have broken away to be independent adoption groups, it may come as a shock to some of you that many of these newly independent groups who have voluntarily left the GPA family have chosen new group names oddly similar to Greyhound Pets of America who's initials condense to GPA, thus causing an unknowing public to think that they follow the same standards, accountability, honesty, financial responsibility and actions as the true GPA chapters. Why it is almost like these groups who no longer wish to be part of the GPA family still wish to be viewed as, thought of and referred to as "GPA" by the donating and adoption public. Seems a bit deceptive.

So, the next time a group tells you they are "GPA", do yourself a favor and verify that they are indeed a true, original GPA and not a group coyly presenting themselves as GPA in an attempt to fool the unknowing into thinking they are still a part of an organization they chose to leave.

I Am Done Hiding – Part I

I have been once again contacted by an individual in the greyhound community who shared their heartbreaking story of childhood sexual assault and has asked me to share it with my readers. This story pulls no punches. It is not easy to read. Both my wife and I cried after reading it. This story shows the trauma, the pain of an abused child and also exactly how a child molester can and does alter the life and rob the innocence of the children they molest.

I Am Done Hiding - Part I

My story and survival begins before I was born.

My biological mother was an alcoholic, RX drug addict, and had a life threatening auto immune disease. Due to a blood transfusion, she contacted Hepatitis B. I know my mother did not want me. I survived medications that were supposed to make her miscarry me. Then I survived a saline abortion. I was due November 28^th, but was born Aug 3^rd.

My mother was in the hospital until I was six years old due to her auto immune disease. Sometimes she was able to come home for a weekend, sometimes not. My grandmother raised me and took care of her mother as well. My great-grandmother was Cherokee and we spoke our language until she passed. Soon after her passing my grandmother met a preacher and they began a common law marriage. This preacher forbid us speaking anything but English, and it was quickly learned that being anything but Caucasian was severely shameful. My hair, once black as night and down to my ankles, was cut short and dyed red. The preacher loved the movie “Annie” and said I looked like her. I cried. I hated that movie. I still do.

My grandmother worked near her house and allowed me to go home to fix a sandwich or watch cartoons rather than stay the full day at her work with her. One particular day, the preacher was home.

I was six years old the first time I learned about sex. I had bruises all over from trying to get away. I still remember hurting so much. My mom was home that weekend. She came to pick me up that evening. When I told her what had happened... well... I would like to tell you that he was arrested. I can't. Instead, I'm here to speak the truth. I was slapped hard enough that I got a black eye. My mother dragged me to my grandmother and the preacher and I was forced to tell them the “lie” I had told her and made to apologize for lying. That was the beginning of eight years of repeated rape by the same preacher. My only friend at the time, a Doberman, once tried to protect me. I was eight and had enough that day of the preacher and yelled at him. He grabbed me by my throat and threw me through the kitchen window. My grandmother witnessed it, but she only focused on my Doberman attacking the preacher. I remember her coming out to the porch and fussing at me that it was my fault for starting it, all the while pulling glass out of me. I still bear those scars on my back and arms. My Doberman was killed the next day by the preacher, and everything got much worse. I would go to school petrified of not knowing if he would be the one picking me up from school. It was nothing uncommon for me to have severe stomach ulcers from stress. I did my best to stay with my grandmother, but he would find reasons that I needed to go back to the house, and I was forced to go.

I never bothered telling my mom about the neighborhood boys. What difference would it have made that three boys pushed me off my bike and dragged me into the woods.

When I was twelve, my biological mother had a friend and insisted that I become her daughter's friend. I was never interested in either of them, but my mother insisted. She insisted one day we go to some family gathering of her friends. That night I found out why I was forced to go. I wasn't worth what my mother sold me for. As she sat getting high and drunk, I was gang raped by eight men. Of course it was all my fault. My mother being a psychiatric nurse was good at mind games. For years, I believed it was my fault.

The first time I went to see a gynecologist he was startled to see the internal (in addition to external) damage I had. I was told I would never be able to conceive or give birth to children. Never. Yet again, this was all my fault. Yet again another reason for my mom to hit me.”

Part II will be posted 6/23/17