The state is set to join a long list of states that have ended greyhound racing. Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque is the last dog race track in the state. Officials at the track have issued confirmation that final season operations at the race track will take place in 2022. Brian Ohorilko, Director of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has confirmed that the track has informed the state as regards the closure.

Result of the closure of greyhound racing at the Iowa Greyhound Park

As a result of the end of the subsidy as well as next year’s closure of the Iowa Greyhound Park, the Iowa Greyhound Association has made a request to reduce the number of approved racing days for the 2022 season in the state.

Brian Ohorilko has stated that the Association has made a request for the reduction of race days to 18 days as part of its license renewal. He has also stated that a request has been made to end greyhound racing in the state after 2022.

The racing season in 2022 will be held from April 16 to May 15, 2022. The track expects that it would host four days of live racing during one month of racing. The races will start at 5.30 pm local time on Wednesdays, Thursdays as well as Saturdays. On Sundays, the races will start at 1.00 pm.

The decline of greyhound racing

Over the past two decades, the sport of dog racing has declined considerably. Only five states have dog racing tracks currently. Apart from Iowa, West Virginia, Texas, Arkansas, as well as Alabama, have dog racing tracks. The result of the decline in the sport also means that fewer dogs are available to compete.

The annual subsidy of $ 4.6 million ends in 2021. Brian Carpenter, General Manager of the Iowa Greyhound Park has stated that without the subsidy, the track would never be able to survive on its own.