Greyhound racing in Iowa ended its 37-year run Sunday as the final races were held at the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque.
Greyhound races started there in June of 1985. The Iowa legislature approved a plan seven years ago to phase out the greyhound parks in Dubuque and Council Bluffs due to the decline of the sport nationwide.
Dubuque Racing Association president and CEO Alex Dixon credited the community in the early 1980’s for taking a chance on bringing greyhound racing to town to help revitalize Dubuque.
Association board chair Kevin Lynch says the non-profit greyhound track has had a tremendous impact on the governments and charities in the Dubuque area.
With the Iowa Greyhound Park closing and the Southland Casino Racing track in Arkansas, also planning to end live races this year, that will leave just two tracks in West Virginia as the only greyhound racing tracks still operating in the United States.
story courtesy of Radio Iowa/Bob Fisher, KRIB; photo courtesy of Bob Fisher, KRIB
