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Another Massachusetts Victory for the Greyhounds

From GREY2K USA.org
August 2022

Simulcast wagering on dog racing is now illegal in Massachusetts. Simulcasting is the closed-circuit broadcast of races between tracks. Through simulcasting, bettors in Massachusetts were permitted to place wagers on dogs running elsewhere, even after Massachusetts voters outlawed this form of gambling. With the closure of tracks in Florida and all across the country, bets were shifting to countries such as Mexico, where there are no humane standards in place for the dogs at all.

At tracks across the world, greyhounds routinely suffer broken legs and other serious injuries.

As the last hours of this year's formal legislative session ticked down on Beacon Hill, the long-fought battle to end greyhound gambling in Massachusetts was finally won! Just before 3 AM on August 1, Democrat Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem of Newton stood up and demanded that simulcast wagering on dogs stop once and for all. She did this to honor the will of the voters on Question 3 and she did it for the greyhounds.

In 2008, Massachusetts citizens overwhelmingly voted 56% - 44% to stop all forms of gambling on dog races. Question 3 was approved by nearly 290 cities and towns from one end of the state to the other.

Question 3 prohibited all betting on dog races, whether live or simulcast. Specifically, it stated that “no dog racing or racing meeting where any form of betting or wagering on the speed or ability of dogs occurs shall be conducted or permitted in this commonwealth.” The full ban was to take effect on January 1, 2010.

But year after year, racing-friendly lawmakers gave the tracks more time to offer simulcast wagering as a way to “wind down.”

Simulcasting is the closed-circuit broadcast of races between tracks. Through simulcasting, bettors in Massachusetts were permitted to place wagers on dogs running elsewhere, even after the voters outlawed this form of gambling. With the closure of tracks in Florida and all across the country, bets were shifting to countries such as Mexico, where there are no humane standards in place for the dogs at all.

Dogs are confined for 20 to 23 hours each day and barely have enough room to stand up or turn around.

We would like to thank everyone who personally fought year in and year out to fully enforce the Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act. Senator Pat Jehlen of Somerville championed the ballot question campaign from the start. Kara Holmquist of the MSPCA was another key ally who testified multiple times along with GREY2K USA board member Jay Kirkus of Boston, volunteers Eileen Moyer, Kristine Acevedo and Leon Femino. Representative Michelle Dubois of Brockton had the courage to defy Raynham Park and co-sponsor our legislation.

Dan Bosley, who served for 24 years in the legislature, joined our team in 2021 and did everything he could to help the greyhounds. You will never be forgotten!

Massachusetts citizens made history when they voted to outlaw dog racing in 2008. Never before had wealthy dog tracks been forced to stop abusing greyhounds through the ballot process. Since that time, multiple states have followed our lead and most recently, Florida and Oregon became the 41st and 42nd states to prohibit racing. None of this would have been possible without the thousands of volunteers who worked so hard, and for so many years, to pass Question 3.

Today, we thank you all for your dedication and most of all, for believing that change is possible.

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