Dog-racing ban supporters say they’re still ‘full steam ahead’

VOTING

‘Don’t give up,’ supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at ending dog racing are telling volunteers.

A Tallahassee judge on Wednesday ruled that Amendment 13 shouldn’t go on the November ballot, calling it “outright ‘trickeration‘ ” — which opponents have since turned into a social media hashtag and rallying cry.

Among other things, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers‘ 27-page order said the amendment’s ballot title and summary were misleading.

But Carey Theil, executive director of GREY2K USA Worldwide, one of the groups backing the racing ban, wrote in an Thursday email to amendment supporters that the campaign for the measure “is still full steam ahead.”

“We will work with Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek an immediate appeal and are confident that this misguided ruling, which misstates the facts and the law, will be overturned by a higher court,” he said.

Bondi – who supports a dog-racing ban – has said her office “will appeal this decision immediately and seek an expedited review by the Florida Supreme Court.” Time is of the essence; Election Day is a little more than 90 days away.

“This lawsuit … was filed because greyhound breeders know that when Amendment 13 appears on the ballot, Floridians will vote ‘yes’ for the dogs,” Theil wrote. “They are trying to silence us, and we can’t let that happen!”

The measure was slated for the November ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC). Amendments need no less than 60 percent approval to be added to the state constitution.

The Florida Greyhound Association, which represents breeders and owners who oppose Amendment 13, had sued to prevent it from appearing on the statewide ballot. A final hearing was held last Thursday.

“Please continue to fight for Amendment 13,” Theil wrote. “It is in our power to end dog racing, but we must keep working and have faith that the greyhounds will prevail.

“…Remember, if ending dog racing were easy, someone else would have done it. We are all pioneers. Florida has a proud tradition of leading on animal welfare, and we are confident Amendment 13 will pass in November.”

Also, the Committee to Support Greyhounds, which opposes the amendment, said it “will continue its public campaign to fight to ensure greyhounds continue to do what they love (to do) — race — in a safe and loving environment.”

The committee added it was “pleased that the judge saw through this ‘trickeration,’ and (we) will continue the fight to show the truth: That racing greyhounds are loved by their trainers, receive the best of care during their careers, and then go on to homes after their career is finished at a 98 percent adoption rate.”

Jim Rosica

Jim Rosica is the Tallahassee-based Senior Editor for Florida Politics. He previously was the Tampa Tribune’s statehouse reporter. Before that, he covered three legislative sessions in Florida for The Associated Press. Jim graduated from law school in 2009 after spending nearly a decade covering courts for the Tallahassee Democrat, including reporting on the 2000 presidential recount. He can be reached at [email protected].


14 comments

  • NoOn13

    August 2, 2018 at 12:36 pm

    Getting my popcorn ready

  • Robert

    August 2, 2018 at 12:38 pm

    Nobody is trying to silence you, “Sport” (Carey). We’re just making sure that Floridians know about the lies and misleading propaganda that you and accomplices spew. Everyone knows how badly you and your wife want to get your grubby little hands on some of Doris Day’s cash.

  • Steven M Grabarczyk

    August 2, 2018 at 12:40 pm

    We’re trying to silence them? Says the group that deletes all of our comments, blocks us, and will not allow a civilized debate on their turf. LOL What a joke.

  • No appeal!

    August 2, 2018 at 1:22 pm

    The State of Florida, should not spend any of the tax payers money to file an appeal to a ballot initiative that was put on the ballot by misleading and false information, (Bondi and Lee told some flat $#@ed lies). And more drivel and lies spewed to the CRC by a group from out of state, that practices in deception and lies to push it’s agenda and fill it’s coffers with cash, let them spend their own money, however, why would they be spending their money? I am confused here, this was supposed to be put on the ballot, by a push by Pam Bondi and Tom Lee and Gaetz, however, when the judge ruled that this activist group could not file an appeal itself, they stated in a courtroom, that they were the main driver of this ballot initiative. So, who actually pushed this to pass through the CRC? If it was the animal rights activists, than, why is an out of state activist group getting involved in Florida’s Constitution, and why would Bondi, Lee and Gaetz let them?? And if they WERE, actually the ones who pushed this through, what the heck is Bondi and Lee doing? Aren’t they supposed to be following the interests of their constituents? How about a little look see into what interests they are actually working for? Are they being backed by any casino interests? Are the activists? Maybe there should be some deeper digging, let’s see who fills Bondi and Lee’s coffers when they try to move to higher up in the Florida Governance…….Get your popcorn!

  • Greyhound nation

    August 2, 2018 at 1:51 pm

    Using Florida tax payers money to fight your fight why don’t you put your money where your mout is and front the legal battle of your corrupt agenda your a fraud even the Florida courts have admitted to this you are just a sore looser you don’t respect the law nor does your wife when she sued the train company to get her money from them … your whole life has been a huge fraud from stealing money and donations with your demonizing videos to now …. respect the courts decision … and a person more corrupt then you well Pam bondi speaks for her self she is more crooked then you !!!

  • Micheal

    August 2, 2018 at 1:53 pm

    Bondi will need more money from Theil, Bondi never attended 1 CRC meeting across the state, She should be embarrassed to be associated with this amendment but she has no dignity we all know when Trump bribed her

  • Tim

    August 2, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Day_Animal_League http://donttellthedonor.blogspot.com/2006/09/humane-society-merger-without-much.html And BTW, Doris Day didn’t donate anything….they merged with the Humane Society in 2006, it’s just another way for them to try to grab attention, the money is still coming from the lying cheating give nothing to animals HSUS. People, do a little homework on these people! They merged so the HSUS could get ahold of their mailing list and donors!

  • Tim

    August 2, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    It doesn’t matter, even if it is put back on the ballot, it will be beaten in November, which would actually be a better outcome, because than, the people have spoken, and that will be the end of the activist groups, or any legislative efforts to change anything. Everyone is starting to catch on to these scam artists. They can go ahead and show old pictures of bad actors, and there pictures from other countries for shock value, people are learning the truth about them, people are learning how these animals are treated in todays day and age. They can see behind the façade, that this is really about money in their coffers and casino interests. This will be beaten, either way! They are in denial and are grasping for straws. The sad part is, there are a lot of people that are giving their hard earned money to these scam artists, with good intentions, only to have it squandered and used for purposes other than what they intended for it when they donated it, those are the real losers in this. They also really hurt the credibility of the facilities that really DO need the money, and DO take care of the needs of the animals. It’s s shame!

  • Jeff White

    August 2, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    Funny, nobody objects to using Florida taxpayers’ money to regulate this dying industry through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, even when the cost of doing so exceeds the revenue the government receives from the industry.

  • Do Your Homework

    August 2, 2018 at 9:05 pm

    Greyhound racing is not subsidized. The tracks pay the taxes that regualte the industry. A statement made by the DBPR that was presented at one of the CRC meetings by the CRC chair said that the DBPR brings in more money from the industry than it costs to regulate it. Nice try though…
    #Trickeration

    • Dave

      August 3, 2018 at 11:16 pm

      Its subsidized by the tracks. They have to take a portion of the slots revenue and enhance the purses.

  • Dave

    August 3, 2018 at 11:10 pm

    Still using fake words and spreading the nonsense….

    Rice University Neolgism Database:

    TRICKERATION
    noun; derivation
    The process of using tricks, particularly trick plays in a sport Possible reason used: The announcer might have chosen trickeration over trick or trick play, because it sounds more devious, or simply because it sounds funnier. Apparent meaning: The use of trick plays in football. The –ATION is a noun-forming suffix. The problem is that TRICK is already a noun, so trickation sounds wrong. The speaker solves this problem by inserting a syllable, ER, which here has little meaning, but makes it sound like more of a word. As with strategery, another noun formed from a noun root, trickeration has a slightly different meaning from its root. The endings somehow make the process sound cleverer and more devious.

    • Andy

      August 5, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      ‘ Crafted to mislead’

Comments are closed.


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