Staff Reports
A bill to ban the use of steroids in racing dogs has again been filed in the Legislature.
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat, is behind the House bill (HB 463), and Sen. Dana Young, a Tampa Republican, has the measure in the Senate (SB 674).
The legislation, which died in the Senate in the 2017 Session, bans the use of the drugs as called for by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, or ARCI.
“The legislation also enacts penalties against dog trainers who continue using them,” a press release said. “An identical measure, also sponsored by Rep. Smith, overwhelmingly passed the full Florida House of Representatives during the 2017 Session.”
“I will not give up on our bipartisan work to protect racing greyhounds from harmful anabolic steroids,” Smith said in a statement. “We passed the bill in the House last session and are ready to do it again in 2018. These beautiful dogs are depending on us.”
Added Young: “Greyhounds are gentle dogs, and deserve to be protected. I’m proud to fight for this good bill, and am confident we can pass it this year.”
Last Session’s measure had been vehemently opposed by racetrack and racing dog associations. There are 18 race-dog tracks remaining in the United States, 12 of them in Florida.
Smith had argued in committee that trainers use steroids on female greyhounds to keep them from going into heat and losing racing days, and thus the ability to make money. He called the use of steroids on dogs equivalent to “doping.”
This summer, 12 greyhound racing dogs in Florida tested positive for cocaine, and their trainer had his license suspended.
6 comments
Ruth Hagenbaugh
October 27, 2017 at 10:03 pm
This is ridiculous. If they let the females go in heat, the males will al be affected too seeing as they all share the same kennel. This could cause fighting among the males. It will cause total havoc. These people don’t realize what this can do. What idiots.
Rose
October 28, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Excuse me Ruth but who is the idiot here? You are probably one of the idiots that go to the greyhound races just for your own morbid pleasure. Sick human being.
Jonna Skehan
October 29, 2017 at 3:49 pm
Greys are separated by sex in the kennel turnout pens. But they race together. Bitches being in season would destroy racing😁
Richard
October 29, 2017 at 6:38 pm
Rose you are just as misinformed as Rep. Smith research shows the steroids administered has no performance effect or adverse health affects to the female. This steroid does how ever keep things from becoming unruly and unmanageable in a racing kennel. So if you would take the time to actually educate yourself instead of listening to animal rights activist that do nothing but prey in the public for “donations” you would also know that not a dime that is given to groups like grey2k ever see a greyhound. This is fact by way of their own public tax records not just hearsay
Rose
October 29, 2017 at 8:23 pm
The point here Richard is that I am an animal lover not an animal activist. There would be no need to give steroids, cocaine or anything else to the greyhounds if the racing would just go away. But with idiots like you and Ruth who think there is nothing wrong with racing and see what horrible lives these hounds have, racing will continue a bit longer. Smarter heads will prevail eventually.
Fred Barton
October 30, 2017 at 3:46 pm
The only reason to interfere with female greyhounds natural cycle is so they can continue to be exploited. It’s just another example of the cruelty and callousness of racing.
am a Board member of GREY2K USA Worldwide, an organization that fights to save these marvelous creatures all over the globe. (you can learn more about us here: http://www.grey2kusa.org.) I have fostered and adopted rescued racing greyhounds since 1995. I cannot imagine abandoning any of them when they become injured, old or sick and yet this is routinely what happens to them at operating tracks.
Fred Barton
Board Member
GREY2K USA Worldwide
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