Dog track shutdown is near

The inevitability of that shutdown was apparent in the mood at Wednesday’s public hearing, held by the state Racing Commission, on the track’s request for a slate of race dates for 2010.

While the commission had until next Sunday to make a decision, commissioners didn’t bother waiting. They took a vote to dismiss the dog track’s application.

Raynham-Taunton representatives said they submitted the license application for next year’s race dates, even though dog racing is set to be banned Jan. 1, just in case the Legislature approves some last-minute measure. For instance, a pending bill filed by Senator Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat, would delay the ban for two years.

But leaders of Grey2K USA, which pushed the referendum on the statewide ban last November, urged the Racing Commission to uphold the will of the people by denying the request.

“There is absolutely no chance the Legislature will revisit this issue,’’ said Grey2K USA executive director Carey Thiel. “And my sense is if there were a vote in either chamber today, [delaying the ban] would be overwhelmingly defeated.’’

Racing commissioners gave two reasons for their dismissal of the track’s request: First, they said, the application was incomplete, lacking the required filing fee, evidence of a surety bond, and the current year’s financials. And second, last year’s binding vote won’t allow for racing after January.

“As the law stands now, if we were to grant the license, it could never be used,’’ said Commissioner John Sherman.

Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park general manager Gary Temple told commissioners he and track owner George Carney had agreed to submit an application for race dates as a favor to the track’s dog handlers. “We felt obligated to be here to represent the people that have made the business so successful, working seven days a week,’’ Temple said.

Following the commission’s decision, kennel owner Mike Curran said, “I’m disappointed with this whole thing. It’s going to put 1,300 people out of work. Unfortunately, I’ll have to look for work in another state.’’

Fellow dog handler Al Smith said the campaign waged by ban proponents was unfair. “The ballot question was called An Act to Protect Dogs, and everybody loves dogs,’’ Smith said. He said his greyhounds are treated well, but that’s not how dog owners and handlers were characterized by the ban’s promoters.

“I feel like I’ve been convicted of a crime I didn’t do,’’ Smith said.

Temple said he still holds out hope the Legislature will support a bill filed by state Representative David Flynn, a Bridgewater Democrat, that would allow the state’s two greyhound tracks to simulcast out-of-state races, without running their own races.

Such a measure would keep at least some track workers employed. Carney didn’t speak during the hearing, but said afterward that slot machines are the most likely way the track and his employees’ jobs can be saved. Bills to allow slots at the state’s four racetracks are pending before lawmakers.

But even if the Legislature approves slots, Raynham-Taunton workers will most likely be out of work, at least temporarily, while the tracks are outfitted with the machines.

Meanwhile, an organization of track workers and dog handlers called the Protection of Working Animals and Handlers has petitioned the Lynn District Court for a judicial inquest into the campaign tactics of racing ban supporters last fall.

“The action won’t change the outcome of the vote, but it would establish that the voters were misled,’’ said group spokesman Doug Pizzi.

If the ban goes into effect as scheduled, Pizzi said his group will file a complaint in court, arguing the ban results in an unconstitutional taking of property without compensation.

Revere’s Wonderland, the only other greyhound racetrack in Massachusetts, held its last race about a month ago. That track did not request a license with race dates for next year.

Christine Legere can be reached at christinelegere@yahoo.com.