Justice
At Palm Beach Kennel Club, a Vilified Sport and a Way of Life End
Florida was home to most of the remaining greyhound tracks left in the U.S. But Amendment 13, banning dog racing, passed last year and the tracks are closing.
PALM BEACH, FLA.— It’s noon and the blazing Florida sun bears down on the few spectators that mill around the outdoor, cigarette butt-littered stands at south Florida's last Greyhound racing track. Races at the Palm Beach Kennel Club start promptly at one, but some of the long-time regulars—mostly middle-aged men—prefer to get an early start to their daily ritual.
“It’s a peaceful place to spend time in the morning,” said Jose, a 58-year old electrician and local Palm Beach resident. “Nobody bothers anyone here and I can come and forget about my problems.” Even during racing hours the stands are sparsely populated. Only a small but faithful few come to the track solely to watch greyhound racing.