can we have a positive racing thread for once?!


Greyhound Racing Industry Contributes Almost $272 Million in 2006 Taxes



WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Greyhound race tracks
employed almost 15,000 people and paid almost $272 million in taxes in 2006
according to an annual report released today by the American Greyhound
Track Operators Association (AGTOA). The annual payroll of these tracks was
more than $194 million and they spent nearly $357 million on goods and
services.
In addition to live greyhound racing, most tracks offer simulcast
wagering on greyhounds, horses, and in some cases, on jai-alai. Greyhound
racing fans bet more than $660 million on simulcast horse races. Some
tracks now have card rooms and slot machines. These additional gaming
activities have generated millions of dollars of additional revenue for
cities, counties and states.
The personnel who own and work for racing kennels and the approximately
800 greyhound-breeding farms in 31 states also contribute to local
economies through taxes and their operations. It is estimated that breeding
farms invest more than $150 million in land, buildings and equipment, and
purchase goods and services representing $96 million each year.
"While this economic contribution to the states where we do business is
substantial, our sport could not exist were it not for our greyhound
athletes," said Richard Winning, president of AGTOA. "We have a special
responsibility to ensure greyhounds are well cared for from the time they
are born until they retire."
Through the American Greyhound Council (AGC), a joint effort of track
operators and greyhound breeders and trainers, the industry funded a number
of programs designed to care for the welfare of racing greyhounds. Since
its inception, the AGC has spent more than $7 million on greyhound welfare
programs. These programs include:
-- Sponsoring a canine bone cancer study;
-- Publishing Care of the Racing and Retired Greyhound;
-- Updating the International Greyhound Research Database;
-- Co-sponsoring a greyhound safety and track surface maintenance
symposium;
-- Sponsoring veterinarian education programs;
-- Maintaining a Web-based hot line to monitor disease outbreaks;
-- Inspecting breeding farms to ensure greyhound welfare standards are
met.
The industry contributed more than $1.4 million to support greyhound
adoption activities. This included providing grants to independent adoption
groups; funding and promoting on-site track-sponsored programs; providing
education to greyhound pet owners; sponsoring a study to improve the
adoption process; and funding an 800 number to facilitate greyhound
adoption.
Track management and employees also believe in giving back to their
communities. In addition to volunteering their time, these tracks
contributed nearly $6.2 million to hundreds of non-profit organizations.
The Annual Report to the Community was compiled by the AGTOA. Formed in
April 1946, the AGTOA is a non-profit corporation comprised of the owners
and operators of greyhound tracks located throughout the United States. To
obtain a complete copy of this report, call 561-688-5799 or e-mail
dbicsak@aldelphia.net or visit http://www.agtoa.com.



SOURCE American Greyhound Track Operators Association

Thank you!

Thank goodness someone is putting out some positive facts. It gets old hearing about the negatives, and overblown gloom and doom.