Until the early twentieth century, Greyhounds were principally bred and trained for hunting and coursing. 
In the late 1800s, the greyhound was imported to America to help Midwestern farmers control the jackrabbit, a noted crop destroyer. With the advent of the greyhound in America, coursing events soon followed.
Greyhound track racing, as we know it today, began with Owen Patrick Smith’s invention of a mechanical lure around 1912, which made racing around a circular track possible. The first circular track opened in 1919 in Emeryville, California. Although this track was not very successful, it paved the way for the development of the greyhound racing industry in America.
History has proven that the greyhound is an animal born to run. They were originally bred as hunting dogs because of their speed. To run is the fulfillment of a greyhound’s basic instinct. Greyhounds by nature are gentle and have always had a strong relationship with humans. The breeding and training of greyhounds is an extension of the human/animal relationship established thousands of years ago.
Greyhound racing is recognized as one of the nation’s largest spectator sports. It is legal in 16 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Oregon and South Dakota do not conduct “live” greyhound racing activities at this time.
Racetracks in America
- Southland Park Gaming and Racing
- Wheeling Island
- Flagler Dog Track – Magic City Casino
- Derby Lane
- Palm Beach Kennel Club
- Victoryland
- Tri-State Racing & Gaming Center
- Birmingham Race Course
- Bluffs Run Greyhound Park
- Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room
- Gulf Greyhound Park
- Jacksonville Greyhound Racing – OrangeParkKennelClub
- Sanford Orlando Kennel Club
- Mobile Greyhound Park
- Sarasota Kennel Club
- Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Racing & Poker
- Birmingham Race Course
- Bluffs Run Greyhound Park
- Caliente Greyhound Park
- Daytona Beach Kennel Club, Inc.
- Derby Lane
- Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino
- Ebro Greyhound Park
- Flagler Greyhound Park
- Gulf Greyhound Park
- Jacksonville Kennel Club, Inc.
- Jefferson County Kennel Club, Inc.
- Mardi Gras Racetrack & Gaming Center
- Melbourne Greyhound Park
- Mobile Greyhound Park
- Naples Ft. Myers Greyhound Track
- Orange Park Kennel Club
- Palm Beach Kennel Club
- Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, Inc.
- Sarasota Kennel Club
- Southland Park Gaming & Racing
- St. Johns Greyhound Park
- Tampa Greyhound Track
- Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center
- Tucson Greyhound Park
- Victoryland
- Wheeling Island Racetrack & Casino
