BREAKING NEWS!
H.R. 3894, the US Greyhound Protection Act has been filed to outlaw dog racing nationwide. The measure also bars American gamblers from betting on foreign races and blocks the export of American dogs for racing elsewhere. Read more and take action.
Dog racing is illegal in 43 states
Active dog racing tracks
West Virginia
No active tracks, dog racing still legal
Alabama
Arkansas
Iowa
Kansas
Texas
Wisconsin
Recent dog racing states, now illegal
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Oregon
Rhode Island
Dog racing is illegal
Lawmaker Spotlights
Lawmaker Spotlight
There are only two operational dog tracks remaining in the United States, both in West Virginia. Commercial greyhound racing is illegal in 43 states. In six states, all dog tracks have closed and ceased live racing, but a prohibitory statute has yet to be enacted. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, and Wisconsin. 1
A greyhound dies following a collision at a U.S. track. (Tri-State Greyhound Park)
Puppies are bred for racing at a breeding farm in Kansas. (Blue Too Kennel)
B's Sodbuster died of a heart attack racing in West Virginia. (Greyhound-Data)
Colton was born on a greyhound breeding farm in the U.S. (Jacobs Racing)
Racing greyhounds are caged for 20-23 hours per day in the US. (Pima County Animal Care Center)
A greyhound at a breeding farm in the United States. (Jacobs Racing)
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The following are the most recent states to pass legislation prohibiting dog racing: Maine (1993), Virginia (1995), Vermont (1995), Idaho (1996), Washington (1996), Nevada (1997), North Carolina (1998), Pennsylvania (2004), Massachusetts (2010), Rhode Island (2010), New Hampshire (2010), Colorado (2014), Arizona (2016), Florida (2018), Oregon (2022) and Connecticut (2024). The United States Territory of Guam also outlawed commercial dog racing in 2010.
Since our formation in 2001, the dog racing industry has suffered catastrophic decline. Altogether, forty-six US tracks have ended dog racing and most have closed entirely: St. Croix Meadows (WI), Pueblo Greyhound Park (CO), Apache Greyhound Park (AZ), Multnomah Greyhound Park (OR), Plainfield Greyhound Park (CT), Geneva Lakes Kennel Club (WI), Post Time (CO), Shoreline Star (CT), Cloverleaf Kennel Club (CO), Jacksonville Kennel Club (FL), Tampa Greyhound Park (FL), Wichita Greyhound Park (KS), Corpus Christi (TX), Mile High (CO), The Woodlands (KS), Hinsdale Greyhound Park (NH), The Lodge at Belmont (NH), Seabrook Greyhound Park (NH), Wonderland Greyhound Park (MA), Guam Greyhound Park (Guam), Phoenix Greyhound Park (AZ), Raynham Park (MA), Dairyland Greyhound Park (WI), Twin River (RI), VictoryLand (AL), Jefferson County Kennel Club (FL), Bluffs Run (IA), Tucson Greyhound Park (AZ), Mobile Greyhound Park (AL), Melbourne Greyhound Park (FL), Hollywood Greyhound Park (FL), Flagler Greyhound Track (FL), Pensacola Greyhound Track (FL), Valley Race Park (TX), Sarasota Greyhound Track (FL), Ebro Greyhound Park (FL), Daytona Beach Kennel Club (FL), Sanford Orlando Kennel Club (FL), Birmingham Race Course (AL), Naples-Ft. Myers Greyhound Track (FL), Gulf Greyhound Park (TX), Orange Park Kennel Club (FL), Derby Lane (FL), Palm Beach Kennel Club (FL), Iowa Greyhound Park and Southland Park (AR).
In addition to live dog racing, greyhound simulcast betting exists in several states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.2 In these states, gamblers are supporting the dog racing industry even though there is no active dog track in their community. Similarly, these simulcast signals depend on the existence of dog tracks in other states.
States that once allowed dog simulcast wagering are increasingly outlawing it. Kansas and Massachusetts passed prohibitions in 2022. Colorado outlawed simulcast wagering on dog racing in 2023 (effective October 1, 2024). In May 2024, New Hampshire prohibited simulcast betting on dog racing (effective January 1, 2027). Then in June, Arizona prohibited internet wagering on greyhound races (effective December 31, 2028).
GREY2K USA Worldwide released the first comprehensive report on the humane and economic aspects of greyhound racing in the United States.
Read our report for an in-depth look inside this cruel industry.
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United States News
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Connecticut for Animals - Connecticut for Animals Education Fund Partner Profile
Casino.org - New Hampshire Bans Greyhound Simulcasts
Greenwich Time - The inspiration for CT's dog racing ban died before governor signed bill into law
OnlineGamblers.com - Connecticut Joins Majority With Official Ban On Dog Racing
Read more >The greyhounds just won AGAIN! Thank AZ Gov. Hobbs today
AZ greyhound bill is near the finish line! Contact Governor Hobbs now
Meet GREY2K in Duluth this month! #TedTalk
Urgent! Pick up the phone now to ban dog racing nationwide
Read more >Timewarp?
Florida Racing Ban: Facts and Fiction
Will November 6 be Greyhound Independence Day in Florida?
Making history for greyhounds
Read more >GREY2K USA applauds bipartisan effort to prohibit dog racing in the Nutmeg State, May 9, 2024
Governor Lamont signs law banning dog racing in Connecticut, May 8, 2024
Nearly 12,000 Greyhounds Injured at Failing Dog Tracks in the U.S., February 11, 2015
GREY2K USA Endorses Massachusetts Signature Campaign, October 31, 2013
Read more >Learn about dog racing
View the Greyhound Racing in the United States Fact Sheet (PDF)
Learn more about dog racing around the world
See humane issues in dog racing
“Greyhounds are very gentle animals, which makes it easy for the racing industry to take advantage of them, but like all animals, they deserve to be treated humanely.”
— Ann Church, Former Vice President of State Affairs for the ASPCA
- Eric Mortenson, "70 years of greyhound racing ends abruptly at Oregon’s Multnomah Greyhound Park," The Oregonian, December 2004; William Yardley, “As Racing Ends, What About the Dogs?”, The New York Times, May 5, 2005; ; Rick Alm, “The Woodlands runs its last greyhound race,” The Kansas City Star, August 23, 2008, kansascity.com (accessed November 15, 2017); Chuck Quirmbach, “Dairyland Greyhound Park holds final races,” Wisconsin Public Radio, December 30, 2009, wpr.org (accessed November 15, 2017); John Paepcke, "Greyhound racing is over at Birmingham Race Course," WVTM 13, April 21, 2020, wvtm13.com (accessed April 21, 2020).
- "Where to Play: U.S. Locations," Pbkennelclub.com, Palm Beach Kennel Club, Florida, 2017, pbkennelclub.com (accessed November 15, 2017).
