Winning says greyhounds are the only dog breed in the Bible. By the end of 2020, it was down to three, with about 2,000 dogs still racing. Two years earlier, Florida had more greyhound tracks than any other state-11 out of 17 nationwide.

Joe DiMaggio once left Marilyn Monroe in an idling car while he ran inside to place his bets.ĭerby Lane was America’s oldest continuously operating greyhound racetrack, but in December 2020 it headed for its final stretch. Babe Ruth and entertainer Sophie Tucker were visitors. Back then, the stands would be packed with fans in suits and hats. Back when the dogs were running last year, you could still get a hint of the glamour and excitement of the track’s glory days in the 20th century. Their paws toss sand in the air as they gallop around the oval for 30 seconds, hitting speeds of up to 45 miles an hour.ĭerby Lane, which opened in 1925, was once hailed as the Churchill Downs of greyhound racing. The doors fly open, and the greyhounds burst onto the track in a blur of acceleration. A mechanical rabbit named Hare-son Hare zooms past, squeaking and shooting blue sparks. Next, Davis, 41, and the eight handlers he supervises put the dogs in the starting box.