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July 9, 2008 - 5:20PM
Updated: July 9, 2008 - 9:27PM
Scottsdale off-track dog betting clears hurdle
Brian Powell, Tribune
Upper Deck Sports Grill will have the chance to bring off-track dog racing to downtown Scottsdale over the objections of Mayor Mary Manross, who voted against the idea.
Scottsdale bar seeks dog racing wagering
Just two months ago, Manross voted to allow horse racing betting to continue at the bar.
The Scottsdale City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to start the process to allow bar owner Tom Anderson to apply for a license that would allow off-track dog racing wagering. A separate council vote will be required before the wagering would be permitted.
Last month, Anderson asked the council to consider amending the city code to allow off-track dog racing wagering, which would be operated by Phoenix Greyhound Park at the bar's four existing betting windows that are used during the day for off-track horse racing.
"We're ready to roll," Anderson said. "People enjoy it, and it's good evening fun."
Manross was the lone vote Tuesday against changing the Scottsdale code to allow off-track dog racing.
"I'm not interested in having any more gambling activity in Scottsdale," Manross said. "I think I have been clear on that through the years."
Anderson was first granted approval by the City Council in April 2007 to operate off-track horse racing betting at his bar, 4224 N. Craftsman Court. That vote was 6-1, with Manross dissenting. He has the only off-track betting site in Scottsdale.
In May, Anderson returned to have his license extended for another year. This time, Manross supported the proposal and voted in favor of allowing Anderson to continue operating the off-track horse racing betting.
When asked Tuesday why she voted for Anderson's off-track horse racing renewal in May but now against this latest proposal, Manross said because the May vote was on the consent agenda and she knew it would pass and didn't want to call for a separate vote. The consent agenda approves a number of different items all at one time.
However, the vote was not on the consent agenda and required its own separate vote. After that point was clarified, Manross said: "He already had (the horse racing) but I don't want to introduce more gambling."
If the license is eventually approved, Phoenix Greyhound Park would operate the betting windows for dog racing, which starts in the evening. The Phoenix track currently operates 35 off-track betting sites.
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