Editor’s note: Mr. Prospector writes today … Mark, I was not painting all greyhound owners and trainers with one wide brush. To the best of our knowledge, the following interviews took place in the early 1980s. We realize that, as a result of the concerned journalists and racing fans in the past, some Greyhound Racing Industry practices have changed. Also, that many Greyhound Adoption Organizations and Rescue Agencies have since addressed the following concerns. The article below illustrates the kind of public pressure which was brought to bear upon the Greyhound Racing Industry in the 20^th Century, to achieve the much needed reforms. Perhaps it is time to bring the same type of public pressure on the Thoroughbred Racing Industry?

~ Lazy R Ranch, administrator/editor.

Dateline: 24 March 2009

Author: Mr. Prospector Copyright 2009: Mr. Prospector and Horse Sense (i.e. Lazy R Ranch). All rights reserved.

Republication: May be republished using RSS, Atom or similar feeds :: all copyright information must remain on republished copies.

The title that broke the story in the 1980s ….

Greyhound racing should be banned in all civilized areas of the world.

Those who allow it are not civilized and that includes numerous states in the union, most notably in the eastern part of the country. The “sport” is also highly popular in various European and southern hemisphere countries. But let me tell you an enlightening story that will send shivers up your spine.

Now this story is fact and may not pertain to every trainer or owner of racing greyhounds but it speaks volumes of some of the individuals allowed to participate in the racing end of owning one of those long-legged canines. I once interviewed two people who held a license to train and race greyhounds a few years ago. Whereas a thoroughbred horse of either sex finishes racing or performs poorly they usually can find a place in the breeding barns, providing their are not geldings. Not so if you are a poor performing, washed up greyhound.

Key question asked trainer number one: “When a dog is past its prime, can’t earn money anymore, and has no breeding prospects what happens to it?” His answer: “Well, I own a .22 pistol, so I take it out behind the kennels, shoot it in the head and toss it in the dumpster.” Okay, I said, I will quote you verbatim when I write my morning column. He was flabbergasted, demanding I not write a word of what he said Sorry pal, I told him, read all about it in tomorrow’s edition. Of course, I never got to interview him again for obvious reasons. Key question asked trainer number two: Same question asked first interviewee. His answer: “Well, when nobody is around I take that hammer (said pointing to weapon hung on the wall) whack the dog a couple times between the eyes and dispose of it anyway I can.”

These are absolutely true stories.Nothing glossed over. Nothing but the facts …

When my column came out the next day the barrage of indignant people calling topped any previous items I had written about in a long and lengthy journalistic career. People were mad! Some mad enough to hunt down the two individuals whose names I mentioned in the article. One left the area that day to pursue his uncivilized occupation elsewhere probably headed to the east coast. The other hung around a while but soon was stripped of all animals in his care by the greyhound owners. Behavior such as this was/is not an isolated situation I am sure. The known facts are many so-called human beings have no feelings for animals, in particular greyhounds and horses, and more so if they can’t make a buck on their behalf. So when the income ceases usually the four legged one’s life also does. Pretty harsh stuff said, huh? But these are facts!

~ Mr. Prospector

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