Momentum for the abolition of the cruel so-called sport of greyhound racing seems to be building up, with the only surviving dog-racing track in Mexico set to be closed down. The Caliente, or ‘Hot’, racetrack in Tijuana city in Baja California province, bordering California in the USA, will host its final dog races this month. Thereafter, the 150 dogs remaining in its cages will have to be moved out by July 22, a message from GREY2K USA received on Tuesday said.
“With more and more states like Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire outlawing simulcasting [live simultaneous telecast with remote online betting], the gambling pipeline [of greyhound racing] to U.S. dollars has disappeared—and foreign dog tracks are losing money,” GREY2K USA President and General Counsel Christine A. Dorchak said in a statement.
On its website, the Caliente racetrack, which opened in May 1947, boasted that it was the only greyhound racing track in Latin America and held races 365 days a year, with facilities to house up to 1,400 dogs. While the track itself is in Mexico, it was considered part of the U.S. dog-racing circuit.
GREY2K USA said nearly all the animals currently at what it described as the world’s worst greyhound racetrack were born in America and raced frequently, with just a day or two of rest between races.
At one time, there were 400 dogs living “in misery” at the Caliente, the organization said, but some 200 were released and rehomed in January. The organization is now seeking donations to sponsor the remaining dogs to waiting rescue groups. For details, click here.
Also read: Dogs are family friends, not racing machines, says anti-race activist Dorchak
