There are two greyhound tracks in West Virginia, Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes and Wheeling Island Casino & Racetrack. Races are conducted year-round at both facilities, with a total of 513 race meets held in 2023.¹ A population of nearly 600 dogs race at Mardi Gras and 1,000 at Wheeling.²

Since 2015, over 5,000 dogs have been injured while racing in the state. In 2022 alone, 666 greyhounds were injured, the highest on record since 2014. A further 1,113 hounds sustained injuries since 2023. According to state records, innocent hounds suffered torn and twisted muscles, dislocations, seizures, heat stroke, broken tails and puncture wounds – and just since 2021, at least forty-two dogs have died! GT’s Cocobolo had a heart attack at the age of three. One-year-old Flying Betty Lou crushed her skull in a practice race. And poor Flying Berrylook died of a stroke. She was just three years old. Other young dogs like Bye bye Mr White, Craigie Damask and CW Emilio were among the dogs with broken legs who were killed since 2022 by track vets.³

Every year greyhound breeders in West Virginia receive $17 million in subsidies, funds that could otherwise be used for vital state programs like fixing roads or substance abuse treatment.⁴

The dogs racing at the state's two dog tracks are bred both in and out of state. According to the President of the West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association, close to 1,000 greyhounds are whelped in West Virginia annually.⁵

The West Virginia Racing Commission regulates greyhound racing in the state and is charged with enforcing the Rules of Racing. In 2023, the total amount wagered on live greyhound racing in the state was $8,819,511, a decline of 57 percent from 2010.⁶

West Virginia Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose Dog Racing Subsidies