1 Track
Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis is the only operational dog track in Arkansas. Races are conducted year-round and in 2013, a total of 5,950 races were held.1 As of June 2012, there were 1,200 greyhounds confined at the track.2
Caged dogs at Southland Greyhound Park in Arkansas. (Rachel Hogue)
Racing greyhound Jasmine falls during a race at Southland Greyhound Park. (Southland Greyhound Park)
An aerial view of the Southland Greyhound Park kennels. (Google Earth)
Greyhound racing in Arkansas is regulated by the Arkansas Racing Commission. The Commission enforces the state's racing rules and regulations, which include provisions for racing procedures, licensing and duties of commission veterinarians.3
In 2013, the total amount wagered on live greyhound racing in the state was $18,376,901.10.4 This represents a decline of roughly forty-five percent since 2005, when the handle was $33.5 million.5 In October 2019, following years of financial losses and citing Florida's decisive vote to prohibit dog racing, the owners of Southland announced an immediate phase-out of greyhound racing, with the last races to be held in December 2022.6
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Arkansas Resources:
Reports
Greyhound Injuries in Arkansas
Fact Sheets
Commercial Dog Racing in the United States
Arkansas State Links
Reports
Greyhound Injuries in Arkansas
Fact Sheets
Commercial Dog Racing in the United States
Arkansas State Links
- Arkansas State Racing Commission, Southland Greyhound Park Performance/Attendance Summary for Tuesday December 31, 2013 (Little Rock, AR: 2014).
- Leslie Newell Peacock, “Greyhounds put in harm's way so racino can prosper,” Arkansas Times, June 20, 2012, arktimes.com (accessed February 14, 2014).
- "Rules and regulations governing greyhound racing in Arkansas,” Arkansas State Racing Commission, 2012, dfa.arkansas.gov (accessed November 15, 2017).
- Arkansas State Racing Commission, Southland Greyhound Park Performance/Attendance Summary for Tuesday December 31, 2013 (Little Rock, AR: 2014).
- “Southland Greyhound Park,” Arkansasbusiness.com, Arkansas Business, 2015, arkansasbusiness.com (accessed November 15, 2017).
- Max Garland, "Southland Casino Racing, Arkansas' only live track, to end greyhound racing by end of 2022," Memphis Commercial Appeal, October 18, 2019. commercialappeal.com (accessed January 27, 2020).
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