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Races Fixed/Greyhounds Drugged in Alabama

On September 19, a tip from GREY2K USA led the Mobile Press-Register to report that District Attorney John Tyson was investigating allegations of cheating at Mobile Greyhound Park. Naturally the racing commission chairman, Eddie Menton, called the accusations "far-fetched." Meanwhile, when polled, most people in Alabama think that dog track cheating is common.

If you go to this page on the Press-Register’s search page, you’ll find that:

  • 13 people have been charged in race-fixing where dogs who were favorites were slowed by being fed pills designed to boost men’s sexual performance a few hours before the races. The pills increase the heart rates of the dogs so they’re exhausted by the time the races begin.
  • Other, equally-kind individuals, placed bets on longshots (read: the dogs not drugged), and everyone (except the dogs) split the winnings. The total booty was over $67,000 for several races in 2005 and 2006.
  • The group of schemers also included: THE KENNEL MASTER, Don Westley Wilson; the person in charge of walking the dogs to the starting gate, Thaddeus Burden Lett; and the paddock judge, Vertis Gerald Sealy, Sr, ALL OF WHOM WORKED FOR THE TRACK. 10 others, including dog handlers and trainers, were also charged.
  • What were they charged with? "Transmission of racing information for illegal gambling purposes," which is a felony, as well as "felony tampering with racing animals."
  • Helloooo? Any cruelty in there? Nope, remember, they’re just property.

Lest you think Alabama is full of rednecks who’ll do anything for a buck:

  • At Florida tracks from 2001-2003, 119 dogs tested positive for cocaine. (I’m pretty sure one of my dogs was one of them.)
  • Since 2003, dogs at tracks in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Colorado have also tested positive for cocaine.
  • At a Wisconsin track in 2002, a trainer was caught, on camera, injecting at least 11 dogs with a foreign substance over a 2-day period. That "gentleman" was also receiving anabolic steroids by mail.

What can you do, no matter where you live?

  • Write a kind, diplomatic, compelling letter to Governor Bob Riley and ask that he launch an independent investigation of the Mobile Racing Commission. Clearly, many of the track regulators are working to increase the profits of the track owners, and not running clean races.

Governor Bob Riley
State Capitol
600 Dexter Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36130

  • Badger any friends who go to the track. Send them to www.grey2kusa.org to learn about the cruelties involved in racing.
  • Support GREY2K USA.

Think about adopting a retired racer. They’re regal, gentle, sweet, and they don’t smell, slobber, or bark!

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