It’s quiet now. If you stand near the corner of Gandy Boulevard and Fourth Street North in St. Petersburg, you won't hear the frantic, rhythmic thud of paws hitting dirt or the mechanical whine of a lure zipping around a rail. That sound defined the area for nearly a century. Tampa Bay greyhound racing wasn't just a weekend hobby for the locals; it was a massive, sweat-soaked, cigarette-stained piece of Florida’s cultural identity.
Then it vanished.
Basically, Florida voters looked at the industry in 2018 and decided it didn't have a place in the modern world. Amendment 13 passed by a landslide. It wasn't even close. By the time 2020 rolled around, the "Sport of Queens" was effectively dead in the Sunshine State. But if you think the story ends with a simple "closed" sign on the front gate, you’re missing the messy, complicated reality of what happened to the dogs, the tracks, and the thousands of people who called the kennel compound home.
The Rise and Fall of Derby Lane
You can't talk about Tampa Bay greyhound racing without talking about Derby Lane. Founded in 1925, it was the oldest continuously operating greyhound track in the world. Think about that for a second. While the rest of the country was dealing with the Great Depression and World War II, people were heading to "The Derby" to bet a few bucks on a dog named after a brand of whiskey or a local neighborhood.
The Weaver family ran the place for four generations. It survived everything—hurricanes, economic crashes, and the rise of the Florida Lottery. In its prime, it was glamorous. Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth reportedly spent time there. It was the place to be seen. But by the late 2010s, the paint was peeling, and the crowds were thinning out. The shift was palpable. You'd go there on a Tuesday afternoon and see maybe a few dozen die-hard bettors hunched over programs, squinting at monitors.
The decline wasn't just about animal rights. Honestly, it was about attention. Why drive to a track when you have a casino in your pocket? The younger demographic simply didn't care about handicapping dogs. They wanted instant gratification. When Amendment 13 hit the ballot, the industry was already on life support, gasping for air while trying to pivot to poker rooms and "racinos."
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What Actually Happened During the Shutdown?
There’s a lot of misinformation about the end of the racing era. Some folks think the dogs were just turned loose or, worse, "disposed of." That’s flat-out wrong. The phase-out was a massive logistical undertaking involving groups like Greyhounds as Pets (GAP) and various adoption agencies across the country.
The transition was hectic. You had hundreds of dogs at Derby Lane and the nearby Tampa Greyhound Track (which had already shifted mostly to simulcasting and poker) that needed homes all at once. It wasn't just a local move; these dogs were being vanned to the Northeast, the Midwest, and even Canada.
- Trainers had to vet every animal before they could leave.
- Adoption groups had to vet the owners, which led to years-long waiting lists.
- The tracks had to stay open long enough to fulfill their legal requirements for live racing dates while the population dwindled.
The weirdest part? The dogs loved to run. If you’ve ever met a retired racer, you know they are basically 45-mile-per-hour couch potatoes, but for the first few months after the tracks closed, these dogs were confused. They were used to a schedule. They were used to the roar. Transitioning them to "civilian" life—learning how to walk on stairs or understanding what a glass door is—became the primary focus of the community.
The Controversy Nobody Likes to Discuss
Let’s be real: the debate over Tampa Bay greyhound racing was incredibly polarized. On one side, you had animal rights organizations like GREY2K USA Worldwide claiming the industry was inherently cruel, citing injuries and the use of "live lures" in training (which was already illegal in Florida). On the other side, you had kennel owners and trainers who viewed the dogs as elite athletes. They argued that the dogs received better medical care and nutrition than most house pets.
The truth? It probably sat somewhere in the middle, leaning toward the need for change. While many trainers truly loved their dogs, the sheer volume of racing meant injuries were inevitable. Hock fractures and muscle tears were part of the business. When the public saw the data on dog deaths and injuries—which the state started tracking more strictly in 2013—the "tradition" of the sport couldn't outweigh the optics of the suffering.
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The Aftermath: Poker and Real Estate
So, what is left of Tampa Bay greyhound racing today? Not much in the way of dogs, but a lot in the way of gambling.
Derby Lane didn't just disappear. They pivoted. They still have a massive poker room and simulcast betting. You can sit in the same grandstand where people cheered on legendary dogs and instead watch a horse race in New York on a big screen. It feels hollow, though. The energy is different.
The real story now is the land. The Derby Lane property sits on over 130 acres of prime real estate in St. Petersburg. In a city that is exploding with growth, that dirt is worth more than the dogs ever were. There have been endless rumors about what will happen to it—apartments, retail, maybe a massive mixed-use development. For now, the old kennel buildings mostly sit empty, a concrete ghost town.
Why It Still Matters
You might wonder why we’re still talking about a dead sport. It matters because it represents a massive shift in how we view animals and entertainment. The collapse of Tampa Bay greyhound racing was a domino. Once Florida—the heart of the industry—voted it out, it signaled the end for racing in almost every other corner of the country.
It also changed the local economy. Thousands of jobs tied to the kennels, the feed stores, and the track maintenance vanished. The "greyhound people" were a tight-knit subculture. They lived together in kennel compounds, worked together, and traveled the circuit together. When the racing stopped, that community scattered. Some moved to West Virginia or Arkansas (where racing hung on a bit longer), but many just left the business entirely.
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Surprising Facts about the Tampa Scene:
- Derby Lane was the site of the first-ever "Distance Championship."
- At one point, the Tampa Bay area had more active greyhounds than almost any other region in the world.
- The "lure" used at Derby Lane was affectionately named "Hareson Hare."
Living with a Retired Racer
If you live in Tampa, Clearwater, or St. Pete today, you’ve probably seen the legacy of the tracks walking down the sidewalk. Retired greyhounds are everywhere. They are the tall, skinny, awkward dogs wearing "martingale" collars (because their necks are thicker than their heads, they can slip out of regular ones).
Adopting a racer became a badge of honor in the wake of Amendment 13. These dogs are unique. They don't bark much. They don't have much body fat, so they need sweaters in the "Florida winter." Most importantly, they are a living piece of local history. Every time you see one, you're looking at a lineage that dates back to the 1920s.
The Practical Reality of the Industry's End
If you're looking for live racing in Tampa Bay, you’re out of luck. It’s gone for good. But for those interested in the history or the remaining facilities, here is the current state of affairs:
- Derby Lane (St. Petersburg): Still open for poker and simulcasting. It remains the best place to see the historic architecture of the racing era.
- Tampa Greyhound Track (Nebraska Ave): No live racing. It operates as a "TGT Poker & Racebook." The neighborhood has changed significantly around it.
- Adoption: If you want a greyhound, it's actually harder now. Since the Florida tracks closed, the supply of retired racers has plummeted. Most local groups now have to "import" dogs from other states or even other countries like Ireland or Australia.
The closure of these tracks wasn't just a legal change; it was the end of a specific type of Florida grit. It was the end of the 50-cent hot dog and the $2 win bet. Whether you see it as a victory for animal welfare or the death of a historic pastime, the impact on the Tampa Bay landscape is permanent.
Actionable Next Steps for Enthusiasts and Locals
If you want to engage with the history or the current state of greyhounds in Tampa Bay, here is what you should actually do:
- Visit the Derby Lane Poker Room: Go not just to play, but to look at the photos on the walls. They have a mini-museum's worth of history regarding the Weaver family and the famous dogs that ran there.
- Support "Second Chance" Organizations: Groups like Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions or Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions still operate. Even though Florida racing is over, they still help transition dogs from the remaining tracks in other states or assist with "greyhound-adjacent" breeds like lurchers.
- Research the Land Use: Keep an eye on the St. Petersburg city council meetings. The redevelopment of the Derby Lane site will be one of the largest construction projects in the city's history, and public input on green space and historic preservation will be vital.
- Volunteer for Transport: Adoption groups often need "legs" for transport runs. If you have a large SUV and a free Saturday, you can help move retired dogs from holding facilities to their forever homes.