BREAKING NEWS!
Connecticut is the 43rd state to ban dog racing
On May 9, 2024, Governor Lamont signed
SB 132 into law, making Connecticut the 43rd American state to outlaw dog racing. Read our press release.
Dog racing is a cruel activity and it has no place in Connecticut. It's mind boggling to think that at one time people considered this a legitimate sport, and I give credit to animal advocacy groups for their activism that has raised awareness about the abuse and extreme conditions these dogs face, leading to bans in nearly every state across the country. Signing this bill is an easy decision.
— Governor Ned Lamont, Press Release, May 9, 2024
All the Connecticut dog tracks are closed and greyhound racing is illegal in the state.
Plainfield Greyhound Park, the state’s first track, opened in 1976,1 and Shoreline Star Greyhound Park, a former jai alai fronton, was converted into a racing facility in 1995.2 By 2005, live racing had ended at both facilities after years of declining attendance and diminished wagering.3
Outlawing dog racing took many years. GREY2K's bill prohibiting dog racing was first filed in 2017 and passed in the Senate, but stalled in the House.4 In 2021, the House of Representatives passed a ban on dog racing but the Senate did not.5 In 2022, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security approved a measure to ban live racing but the bill was not called for a plenary vote.6 Championed by Representatives Mike D'Agostino and Nicole Klarides-Ditria, the bill was refiled and passed in the House in 2023, but the Senate took no action.7
Finally, in 2024 SB 132 received a favorable public hearing before the Joint General Law Committee, passed in both chambers and was signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont on May 9, 2024.8
Stay up to date and learn how you can help.