TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - Greyhound breeders and trainers are asking the courts to strip a proposed constitutional amendment from the November ballot.
They say, the measure is misleading and inaccurate.
The proposal, placed on the ballot by the Constitution Revision Commission, would outlaw greyhound racing at dog tracks by 2020, a process known as "decoupling."
In a complaint filed this week in Leon County circuit court, lawyers for the plaintiffs raised what they deem numerous flaws in the amendment.
Florida Greyhound Association Lobbyist Jack Cory says, the proposed ballot title and summary doesn't fully inform voters about the impact of the amendment if approved.
"What it's going to do is it's going to stop live greyhound racing in the state of Florida, cost the state of Florida over $80 million a year in live betting on live greyhound racing, $200 million at greyhound tracks, 3,000 jobs, and put 8,000 beautiful greyhounds at risk," said Jack Cory of Florida Greyhound Association.
However, Kate MacFall with the Humane Society of the Unites States calls the lawsuit a desperate attempt to keep voters from deciding the fate of greyhound racing.
"The reality is Floridians love dogs. They are members of our families," said MacFall. "They certainly deserve to be protected from industries and individuals that do them harm."
Greyhound Racing has been part of Florida's gambling footprint for nearly a century.
For years, doing away with has been heavily lobbied and debated in the Legislature.
