For Immediate Release:	Contact: Susan Netboy
April 5, 2006	888.842.4404

CLOSURE OF SHORELINE STAR ENDS DOG RACING IN CONNECTICUT

Bridgeport, Connecticut – Months of speculation that Shoreline Star Greyhound Track was in the process of being sold were confirmed today with revelations that a sale to Autotote was finalized at midnight Tuesday. There are no plans to open the track for live racing; however, the track will remain open for simulcasting.

Closure of Plainfield Greyhound Park last spring left Shoreline as the only dog racing venue in the state.

The shutdown of both Shoreline and Plainfield Greyhound Park brings 30 years of greyhound racing to an end in the State of Connecticut, a circumstance that would be applauded by greyhound advocates around the country.

“A reduction in the number of dog tracks has real impact on the greyhound over-breeding problem that plagues rescue groups nationwide” said Greyhound Protection League President, Susan Netboy. “The Shoreline closure brings the number of closed tracks to 23 since the industry’s heyday in the early 1990’s.”

Netboy predicts that more closures are in the works “There’s a real sea-change occurring in the racing industry. Owners are looking at the bottom line and deciding that it’s just not worth the struggle to try to keep the doors open. This is particularly true in New England where dog racing is nearly in a state of collapse,” said Netboy.

The greyhound racing industry has suffered severe revenue declines for over a decade, a fact that Netboy attributes not only to competition from other forms of gambling, but also to scrutiny the industry has had to endure from greyhound protection organizations.

Shoreline has been operating with May to October live racing schedule, so concern about the fate of greyhounds is minimal. However, the track does have several dozen greyhounds from last year’s racing season that still need to be adopted.

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