The lights are mostly dim now. If you drive past the intersection of Pembroke Road and US-1 in Hallandale Beach, Florida, you aren't greeted by the frantic barking of lean dogs or the smell of hot dogs and cheap beer that defined the place for decades. The Mardi Gras Greyhound Track—or the Big Easy Casino, as it’s now rebranded—is a ghost of its former self, at least in the sporting sense. For over 80 years, this patch of Florida dirt was holy ground for gamblers. It was a place where fortunes were made and lost in thirty seconds flat. But the world changed.
Honestly, the story of this track is basically the story of Florida's shifting moral and economic compass. It’s not just about dogs running in circles. It’s about how a massive industry, once the backbone of South Florida tourism, simply vanished. People forget that greyhound racing used to be as big as baseball in this part of the country.
The Glory Days of the Mardi Gras Greyhound Track
Back in the 1930s, when the track first opened its gates as the Hollywood Dog Track, it was the place to be. You’ve got to imagine the scene: men in fedoras, women in their Sunday best, and the electric hum of the crowd. It was glamorous. This wasn't just a local hangout; it was a destination.
The track underwent several name changes, eventually settling on Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming. For a long time, it thrived because it was one of the few places you could legally bet. If you wanted action in South Florida, you went to the track. The roar of the mechanical lure—affectionately known as "Rusty"—was the soundtrack of Hallandale nights.
Greyhound racing at this specific location was high-stakes. The track was known for its fast surface and its ability to draw top-tier kennels from across the United States. During the peak winter season, the stands were packed. You’d have thousands of people screaming as eight dogs rounded the final turn. It was visceral. It was loud. It was quintessentially Florida.
Amendment 13: The Death Blow
Everything changed in November 2018. That’s when Florida voters passed Amendment 13.
It wasn’t a close call. Over 69% of voters decided to ban commercial greyhound racing across the state. The move was pushed heavily by animal rights groups like GREY2K USA Worldwide and the Doris Day Animal League. They argued that the sport was inherently cruel, citing injuries, the use of anabolic steroids, and the "disposal" of dogs that weren't fast enough to compete.
The Mardi Gras Greyhound Track didn't have much of a choice. The law gave tracks until December 31, 2020, to end racing for good.
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It’s worth noting that the track owners weren't exactly fighting tooth and nail to keep the dogs. By the time 2018 rolled around, racing was a money loser. The real profit was in the slot machines and the poker rooms. For years, Florida law required tracks to hold live racing events just to keep their lucrative "pari-mutuel" licenses. This was known as "decoupling." Track owners wanted the right to keep the casinos without the overhead and public relations headache of the dog track. Amendment 13 basically gave them what they wanted, albeit through a public mandate.
The Shift to the Big Easy Casino
When the last dog crossed the finish line at Mardi Gras, the transition to the Big Easy Casino was already well underway. The dogs were gone, but the gambling remained.
Today, the facility focuses on:
- Over 700 slot machines, including popular titles like Wheel of Fortune.
- A dedicated poker room that remains one of the busiest in the region.
- Virtual table games like electronic blackjack and roulette.
- Live music and seasonal events.
The vibe is different now. It’s more clinical. The smell of the track has been replaced by the scent of industrial air fresheners and the electronic chiming of slot machines. You don't see the same "railbirds"—the grizzled bettors who lived and breathed the dogs. They’ve been replaced by casual gamers and poker players who probably don't even know where the finish line used to be.
What Happened to the Dogs?
This is the question everyone asks. Where did hundreds of greyhounds go when the Mardi Gras Greyhound Track shut its kennel doors?
The logistics were a nightmare. Hundreds of dogs needed homes simultaneously. Groups like Friends of Greyhounds and various adoption agencies across South Florida stepped in. Fortunately, greyhounds make surprisingly good pets. People call them "45-mph couch potatoes" because, despite their speed, they’re incredibly lazy off the clock.
Most of the dogs from the Hallandale track were successfully rehomed. Some went to northern states where racing had already been banned, while others stayed in Florida as family pets. The transition was largely considered a success by welfare advocates, though the trainers and kennel owners who lost their livelihoods would likely tell you a different, much grimmer story.
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The Economic Impact Nobody Talks About
We often hear about the "win" for animal rights, but the closure of the Mardi Gras track had a massive ripple effect on the local economy. It wasn’t just the jockeys or the trainers.
Think about the local vets. Think about the people who sold the high-protein dog food. Think about the maintenance crews. A whole ecosystem lived off those dogs. When the racing stopped, a lot of blue-collar jobs in Hallandale Beach simply evaporated.
The city had to pivot. Hallandale Beach is now seeing a massive influx of luxury condos and high-end retail. The Big Easy Casino is a part of that, but it’s a much smaller employer than the full-scale racing operation used to be. The land itself is incredibly valuable. There is constant rumors in real estate circles that the massive parking lots and old track space will eventually be scraped for high-density residential towers.
Understanding the Pari-Mutuel System
To understand why Mardi Gras mattered, you have to understand pari-mutuel betting. Unlike a sportsbook where you bet against the "house," in pari-mutuel betting, you’re betting against everyone else in the pool. The track just takes a cut (the "takeout") for facilitating the bet.
This system created a unique community. You weren't just a gambler; you were a student of the "form." You studied the lineages of the dogs, their split times, and how they handled the "one-box" versus the "eight-box." That subculture is effectively dead in Florida. While you can still bet on simulcast racing from other states at the Big Easy, it’s not the same as being there in person.
The Reality of Visiting Today
If you go to the site of the old Mardi Gras Greyhound Track today, don’t expect to see much of the racing history. The rebranding was thorough.
The casino is clean, modern, and looks like any other regional gaming center. It’s a "locals" spot. You won't find the glitz of the Hard Rock in Hollywood, but the poker games are notoriously "splashy" (lots of betting, for the uninitiated).
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The location remains its biggest asset. Being right on the border of Broward and Miami-Dade counties means it’s always busy. But for those who remember the sound of the dogs, there’s a palpable sense of loss. You can still see the shape of the old grandstands if you look closely at the architecture, but the soul of the place has been moved to the digital screen.
Misconceptions About the Track
A lot of people think the track closed because it was "caught" doing something illegal. That’s not really true.
The closure was a political and cultural shift, not a criminal one. The Mardi Gras Greyhound Track operated within the laws of Florida for nearly a century. The controversy was about whether those laws should exist, not whether the track was breaking them.
Another common myth is that the casino is struggling without the dogs. In reality, the profit margins on slot machines are significantly higher than they ever were for dog racing. The dogs were a high-maintenance attraction; the machines just need electricity and a technician.
Actionable Insights for Visitors and History Buffs
If you’re planning a trip to the site or just want to dive deeper into this piece of Florida history, here’s how to handle it:
- Don't Look for the Track: If you're hoping to see the dirt oval, you're out of luck. It’s mostly been paved over or repurposed. The facility is a casino now.
- Check the Poker Schedule: If you want a taste of the old gambling spirit, the poker room is your best bet. It’s where the most "traditional" gamblers still hang out.
- Visit the Archives: The Hallandale Beach Historical Society has photos and memorabilia from the track’s heyday. It’s a much better place to see the history than the casino floor.
- Support Greyhound Rescues: If the story of the track’s closure moves you, consider donating to organizations like Greyhound Adoptions of Florida. They still work to support the thousands of former racing dogs living as pets.
- Understand the Laws: If you’re interested in gaming, keep an eye on Florida’s compacts with the Seminole Tribe. This is what currently dictates what the Big Easy Casino can and cannot offer in terms of games.
The era of the greyhound in Florida is over. The Mardi Gras Greyhound Track served as one of the final chapters in that book. Whether you see it as a victory for animal rights or the death of a historic pastime, its impact on the landscape of South Florida is undeniable. The dogs have stopped running, but the wheels of the slots keep turning, marking a new, albeit quieter, chapter for Hallandale Beach.
If you are interested in visiting, the Big Easy Casino is located at 831 N Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Parking is generally free, and the poker room typically operates 24/7, depending on current local regulations. Check their official site for the most up-to-date tournament schedules before heading out.
The transition from the Mardi Gras Greyhound Track to a modern gaming hub is complete. It stands as a monument to how quickly an industry can vanish when public sentiment turns. For the dogs, it was a retirement; for the fans, it was the end of an era; and for the city, it’s just business as usual.