End of an Era in Dubuque

[47of74]

In 1985 a greyhound racing facility opened in Dubuque, as a way of helping a community that was in serious economic decline.  Eventually they added on a full casino that my maternal grandma just loved going to.  Sometimes around her birthday I go back there to play a couple slots in her memory.  The dog track had still been running but today was the last day for the track.

Quote

Hundreds of people showed up at the Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque on Sunday for the last-ever chance to bet on the dogs.

The park is closing because it is no longer financially feasible to keep it open. According to Brian Carpenter, the general manager of IGP, Florida had been a hotspot for dog racing, but a ban there in 2020 led to fewer people breeding dogs. The shortage of dogs contributed to the diminishment of racing parks.

The park is moving on, as well. However, Carpenter could not provide details on what it will turn into.

“I know the city has plans. I just honestly do not know what they plan on doing. Our lease is up July 31,” Carpenter said. “The DRA will take over—the Dubuque Racing Association—and I’m sure them and the city will decide exactly what they would like to do with the property. But I know it won’t go to waste.”

Never really was all that much into greyhound racing and never did watch any of the races there.  It'll be interesting to see what they do with the former dog track property now that the track is shutting down.  If they expand the casino or provide other entertainment options. 

[Flossie]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of animal racing either.  The top runners are treated well enough, as long as they stay on top.  Most are treated well afterwards because they're used as breeding stock.

But the animals that are bred to run and don't bring in money for their owners...?  Rescue organisations do what they can but there are too many sad endings for the animals.