Florida voters choose to phase out greyhound racing by 2021

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida greyhounds will soon have their last race after voters chose to phase out the sport.

The state voted 69 to 31 percent Tuesday to pass Amendment 13, which bans the sport beginning on Jan. 1, 2021. It is an overwhelming defeat for an industry that had already been declining. In the past 30 years, 50 tracks closed nationally because of shrinking crowds and accusations of dog mistreatment.

Advocates for the ban say many of Florida's 8,000 racing dogs will now likely be adopted, as usually happens when they leave the sport.

Florida's 11 dog tracks are almost two-thirds of the total remaining nationally. Without them, the sport may be too small to survive long term.

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