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The face of the Florida Greyhound Association is asking the head of the state agency regulating gambling to let his people go.

Go behind the scenes at dog tracks, that is.

Tallahassee lobbying legend Jack Cory, who’s advocated for the greyhound industry for decades, sent a request Friday for an “emergency rule” to Jonathan Zachem, secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

The department oversees dog racing and other gambling through its Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering.

Earlier this week, the agency had warned racing greyhound owners and others that public tours of kennels at Florida greyhound tracks may violate state regulations.

That’s because last month, the National Greyhound Association said it would offer tours of “three Florida greyhound tracks and their on-site kennels.” The free two-hour guided tours were “designed to promote transparency and educate the public about the care of greyhounds at the track, as well as stewardship of the breed,” according to a press release.

The Florida Supreme Court could issue a ruling as soon as Friday on whether general election voters will get to see a constitutional amendment aimed at ending live greyhound racing.

Circuit Judge Karen Gievers already struck the measure after a challenge from the Florida Greyhound Association, calling its ballot title and summary “outright ‘trickeration.’ ”

Spokeswoman Suellen Wilkins has explained that “certain areas of pari-mutuel facilities are restricted access,” specifically “the backside where racing animals are kept.”

But Cory told Zachem he could change state regulations to temporarily allow visitors with passes to see kennels “under direct supervision at all times.”

“The men and women of the Florida Greyhound Association believe in ‘government in the sunshine’ and welcome the citizens of the state to visit the greyhounds, at any reasonable time, to see how well (they) are treated, under the inspection of your staff,” Cory wrote in an email.

“With this knowledge, the voters can decide whether or not the state needs this change to the constitution,” he added.

Because Cory asked for the emergency rule, “this matter is now under legal review (and), as such, DBPR cannot comment,” said Rose Hebert, another department spokeswoman.

The Protect Dogs-Yes on 13 campaign, which is promoting passage of Amendment 13, has called the planned tours “staged political photo opportunities.”

The campaign said the tour registration form included “screening questions to weed out animal advocates,” and that waiver language “gave the (greyhound association) the right to use the likeness of participants in political ads.”

Derby Lane, located in St. Petersburg, and the Palm Beach Kennel Club, located in West Palm Beach, had been selected to be the first two tracks to open their doors.

The amendment, slotted for the ballot by the 2017-18 Constitution Revision Commission, would need at least 60 percent approval to be added to the state constitution, like other proposed changes to the state’s governing document.

Featured photo courtesy of Van Abernethy.

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6 comments

Steven M Grabarczyk
September 7, 2018 at 2:06 pm

The Fake protectors at PD 13 will go to any lengths to cover up their charade to the public. Like their ill researched Press Release that does not tell the whole story of the betting handles at the tracks, they conveniently did not add back the revenue from ADW or internet betting, not taxed or reported to or by the state. The numbers are confirmed and are not on a “ransom spreadsheet” as they claim, which at only 3 of the 12 tracks, turned out to be 200+ MILLION MORE. Funny when they get caught in their lies its always someone else who is “dog promoter” purveyor of a “last ditch effort” ” Photo opportunity stunt” “random spreadsheet” etc. etc. etc.
Leslie C
September 7, 2018 at 2:42 pm

The registration form for the tours does not “weed out” animal rights activists but rather is designed to learn a bit about the audience’s leanings. The tours collateral and registration process was intended to keep the information relevant and keep the dogs safe from individuals that might be intending harm.

I’m confused why the Yeson13 folks are so concerned about tour guests consenting to imaging, especially since Yeson13 and Grey2k uses unauthorized images of individuals in their smear campaigns as a standard practice. At least the tours will be positive, upbeat and fun and not full of malice and defamatory intent.
Lil Stevie Grabmaczyk
September 7, 2018 at 3:23 pm

Kennel tours or no kennel tours. Let’s just vote on it in November, eh?
George Bova
September 7, 2018 at 3:34 pm

You can’t fake 75 wagging tails. The Pro13 leaders fear those wagging tails most of all because thousands of Florida’s animal lovers now have their chance to be informed voters too. The truth cannot be faked.

Let the sunshine in, Florida.
- Michael
  September 10, 2018 at 8:48 pm
  
  What does a wagging tail habe to do with it? A dog going to slaughter will still wag its tail. Dogs in shelters wag their tails in hope to be saved from the kennel cage they are kept in. In fact the dogs are signaling a HELP ME sign to anyone who will save them from their harsh conditions.
  
  Your an ass George
Fred Barton
September 10, 2018 at 12:03 pm

The kennel tour ploy is a distraction. Prop 13 isn’t about how greyhounds are treated in the kennels, because whether they are in a clean, well- lit kennel, or a dirty, dark one they are still being exploited for profit. Ending that exploitation is what Prop 13 is all about.