GREY2K TRIES BACK-DOOR SCHEME TO END SIMULCASTING AT NEW HAMPSHIRE TRACKS

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UPDATE: On March 13, New Hampshire legislators rejected Grey2K’s bill by a two-to-one margin. 
 
A bill now under consideration by the New Hampshire (NH) legislature would make it illegal for the state’s racetracks to simulcast greyhound racing signals from states that do not require public reporting of injuries. While the bill, a Grey2K initiative, has been defeated in a House committee, it will be debated on the House floor on March 6.
 

The American Greyhound Council (AGC) and the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA) have joined forces to defeat the proposal, which is a clear violation of federal interstate commerce laws.
 
If passed, the bill would prohibit Seabrook Park and Rockingham Park from simulcasting signals from tracks in Florida and other states where injury reports are not made public. Grey2K officials claim the bill will result in changes to Florida injury reporting rules, but AGC spokesperson Gary Guccione dismissed that argument as ludicrous. 
 
"New Hampshire can’t dictate how Florida regulates racing," said Guccione. "This bill isn’t about injury reporting in Florida; it’s about forcing Seabrook Park to close for good."
 
Karen Keelan, President of Seabrook Park, confirmed that passage of the bill would force Seabrook to close its doors permanently, since signals from Florida comprise about 85 percent of her simulcast business. New Hampshire prohibited live greyhound racing in the state two years ago.
 
In testimony delivered before the House Ways and Means Committee, Keelan testified, "I have sent a letter to the 150 employees of Seabrook Park and its operating entities, many of whom have worked at Seabrook for almost 40 years, that our facility will have to close its doors forever, effective July 1, 2013, if this bill passes."
 
Attorneys have advised AGTOA and AGC that HB564 would likely face an immediate court challenge if passed. Under federal law, state laws that would affect commerce between states must be applied even-handedly and without discrimination, and they must be proven to serve a compelling local interest.
 
The Grey2K bill, HB 564, fails to meet both tests. Since New Hampshire no longer allows live greyhound racing, the bill’s public reporting requirements would not apply to New Hampshire and would not serve any compelling local interest.