Greyhound Racing in West Virginia

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 568 hounds sustained injuries in 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 twenty-seven 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

Two-year-old St Barts in a trail of blood at Mardi Gras.

Caged greyhounds at Wheeling Island in West Virginia. (Greyhound Relocation & Adoption Canada Forum)

Greyhounds at the Mardi Gras kennel in West Virginia. (Maupin Greyhound Racing Kennel, Mardi Gras)

A caged greyhound in West Virginia. (Maupin Greyhound Racing Kennel, Mardi Gras)

Racing greyhounds spend long hours each day in these cages. (KeepWVgreyhounds, Wheeling)

Braska Train was destroyed after the injuries he suffered during this race. (Wheeling Island)

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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