Two Alabama dog tracks rank among nation’s tops, but some say industry declining

Monday, Feb. 28, 2000 | 9:37 a.m.

The Birmingham Race Course and VictoryLand dog tracks rank No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, among the nation's 50 tracks, according to the American Greyhound Track Operators Association.

The ranking is based on the amount of money wagered on races in 1998, not including money bet on simulcast races.

But while those two tracks are busy, Greenetrack in Greene County, which suspended live racing because of struggling finances, is at the back of the pack.

Dog track officials said declining revenues could cause them to close or lay off employees, though the financial health of the tracks is unclear, in part because of the tracks' refusal to reveal revenues

As a result, the Alabama pari-mutuel industry is lobbying the state Legislature to legalize video poker and other electronic games at the tracks.

"Generally, the Birmingham track makes money, " said Rick Heartsill, a spokesman for the dog tracks. "The Macon track makes money one month but loses the next, and the other two are losing money" or breaking even, he said.

Gamblers wagered $122 million in live and simulcast racing last year at the Birmingham track, audit records show. Milton McGregor purchased the massive facility, originally built for horse racing, after it went bankrupt.

At VictoryLand, people gambled a total of $85 million in live and simulcast races. Despite the high rankings of the two tracks, industry representatives around the country say the industry is in decline.

"After the top five, it's not very good to have a dog track anymore," said Barry Baldwin, general manager of SouthLand race track in West Memphis, Ark. "It's a very expensive business to run."

The tracks are not bringing in the money they once did, officials said. VictoryLand, for example, was once the No. 1 track in the nation. Wagers there have dropped by half since 1990, when people gambled $176 million.

Owners blame the revenue slide on competition from casinos that have sprouted in Mississippi and other places.

"It's like selling eight-tracks next to a CD store," said Roy Berger, president of the track owners association. "I know people who used to go to the track in Macon, but now wave as they drive past on their way to casinos."

When dog tracks started, part of their appeal was the fast pace, with a race every 11 minutes. That's three times faster than in horse racing, but it's not fast enough for gamblers who grew up on video games, said Berger.

"It's a stale product," he said. "They need something new to get people back in the store."