Greyhound
Tracks Contribute $84 Million
Forty greyhound racetracks in
13 states* employed nearly 14,000 people and
paid more than $84 million in taxes in 2004
and more than $176 million on outside vendors
and services according to an annual report released
today by the American Greyhound Track Operators
Association (AGTOA). The annual payroll of these
tracks was more than $162.5 million.
In
addition to the economic impact from greyhound
racing operations, 14 tracks in the United States
offer their patrons other gaming options. In
2004, these additional operations generated
$446 million in taxes and employed 1,748 people
with a payroll of nearly $29 million.**
This
does not include the personnel employed at,
nor taxes paid by the kennels that race at the
track, nor the economic contributions of approximately
800 greyhound-breeding farms nationwide. It
is estimated that these operations invest more
than $150 million in land, buildings and equipment,
and purchase goods and services representing
$96 million each year.
The
greyhound industry funds a number of programs
designed to care for the welfare of racing greyhounds.
The industry spent more than $330,000 on welfare-related
programs in 2004. This included:
*
A farm inspection program, where inspectors
make unannounced visits to breeding farms to
verify compliance with the industry's greyhound
welfare guidelines;
*
Development of a vaccine for Kennel Cough;
*
Development of a Web Site, as a central source
of accurate and timely information on disease
outbreaks;
*
Greyhound safety, track surface and maintenance
programs;
*
Publication of an international greyhound research
database;
*
Sponsorship of a canine sports medicine symposium
to bring together leading veterinarians specializing
in greyhounds;
*
Development of an educational video on how to
safely lead greyhounds to the starting box;
*
A brochure on greyhound welfare; and
*
An educational program for people who have adopted
retired greyhounds.
The
industry spent nearly $2 million to fund track-sponsored
greyhound adoption programs; provided grants
to non-profit adoption programs; funded a toll-free
number to facilitate greyhound adoption; provided
a trailer to transport greyhounds; and supported
and promoted greyhound adoption programs. To
date, 92 percent of retired racers found homes
as pets.
These
tracks and its employees were actively involved
in local community non-profit activities. In
addition to volunteering their time, these tracks
contributed nearly $11 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 44 greyhound tracks
located throughout the United States.
|
