TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s Supreme Court will decide the fate of a dog-racing amendment that is supposed to be on this year’s ballot.
On Tuesday, the state’s 1st District Court of Appeal agreed to send the case to the Supreme Court to review a controversial gambling measure, instead of ruing on the matter.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, a big proponent of the proposal, immediately appealed the decision and sought an expedited review by the Supreme Court.
Gievers wrote in her opinion that the proposed Amendment 13 “is misleading and inaccurate and incomplete, while adding up to a ’hide the ball,” ‘fly a false flag’ and outright ‘trickeration.’”
For example, voters would not be told that the state’s existing dog tracks could eliminate dog racing and still be allowed to offer other types of gambling. Florida tracks could also still accept bets on dog races occurring in other states even though the first words of the amendment say it would “end dog racing.”
The measure, one of eight constitutional amendments, would ban betting on live dog racing by the end of 2020. It would have to be passed by 60 percent of voters.
"We've been rescuing greyhounds for 26 years," said Don Goldstein. "We just fell madly in love with the breed."
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Judge removes measure to ban greyhound racing from Florida ballot
Goldstein runs Greyhound Rescue & Adoptions of Tampa Bay, Inc. He has advocated against dog racing for several years now.
Florida is home to 11 of 17 dog tracks in the country. Derby Lane in St. Petersburg is the oldest track in America.
"The state of Florida voters will vote overwhelmingly in favor of ending this archaic and inhumane industry," said Goldstein.
The Florida Greyhound Association has filed a lawsuit against Amendment 13, saying it is misleading to voters.
"It is a bad proposal," Jack Cory told ABC Action News in January. "It could cost over 3,000 Florida jobs and put over 15,000 beautiful greyhounds at risk."
Justices have scheduled to hear arguments in the case on Aug. 29.
