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Phoenix Greyhound Park to shut down
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Phoenix Greyhound Park, one of three remaining dog tracks in Arizona, is planning to shut down by the end of the year.
In a letter to the Arizona Department of Racing on Thursday, track officials said the park would remain open for live racing until Dec. 19, continue to simulcast races until Dec. 31, then shift some of its simulcast operations to Apache Greyhound Park in Apache Junction.
The Phoenix park opened in 1954 and runs live races seven days a week.
The business has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including increased competition from casinos, declining revenue and dwindling visitor numbers.
On-track attendance at the track dropped 14 percent last year to about 106,000 annual visitors and has declined 56 percent since 1998.
Track officials broke the news Friday to its employees and kennel owners and operators.
The closing would affect about 120 to 140 park employees involved in live-racing operations, as well as dozens of peripheral workers, such as kennel owners and dog handlers.
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