RACING FANS: GREY2K DIRTY TRICKS MAY CONSTITUTE ELECTION FRAUD

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Pro-racing forces have filed an election fraud complaint against the Committee to Protect the Dogs, the Massachusetts front group for Grey2K that led the campaign to ban greyhound racing in Massachusetts, according to July 2 online editions of the Raynham Call and Metrowest Daily News.

The group POWAAH, Protection of Working Animals And Handlers, alleges that Question 3 supporters traded gifts for votes and misled voters regarding track conditions.

POWAAH was formed in January 2009 to educate voters on the impact of the ban, and delay its enforcement.

Some of the misrepresentations cited by POWAAH:

  • Claiming that only 31 percent of greyhounds are adopted, when in fact 100 percent of Massachusetts greyhounds are adopted;
  • Claiming greyhound crates are too small, when crate size has been approved by the state racing commission with input from humane groups;
  • Claiming examples of abuse were local, when the videos used to promote the ban showed out-of-state racing venues.

In the Metrowest Daily article, POWAAH spokesperson Doug Pizzi said an April poll showed that 61 percent of Massachusetts voters favored delaying the implementation of the ban for as long as three years to save jobs.

AGC Communications Coordinator Gary Guccione said tracks and breeder organizations in other states have learned from the Massachusetts experience.

"We understand now that Grey2K will say anything to win," he noted.  "Our folks are preparing for floods of misinformation in every state where Grey2K pokes its head up. We see our job as helping the public separate fact from fiction."