Greyhound Racing in Iowa

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There are no greyhound racetracks remaining in Iowa. Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque held its last race on May 15, 2022.¹ Greyhound racing remains legal in the state, however, as a prohibition has not yet passed into law.

There were once thought to be as many as sixty greyhound farms in Iowa.² Breeders received subsidies of almost $14 million annually.³ However, a $72 million casino buyout adopted in 2015 eliminated this subsidy arrangement, but called for “cessation” payments to industry participants. Approximately half of the buyout was allocated to breeders and trainers affected by the closure of Council Bluffs in December 2015. The other half was awarded for the continued operation of Iowa Greyhound Park through the year 2022.⁴ Thankfully, a portion of the cessation funds was also directed to assist with greyhound welfare and to promote adoption of dogs released from racing.

On July 29, 2022, Iowa greyhound breeder Jon Stidham was ordered to spend 15 months in prison, pay a fine of $7,500 and forfeit $527,510 in proceeds from illegal drug sales. Stidham, a longtime Board Member of the Iowa Greyhound Association, was convicted of conspiracy to deliver, distribute or dispense methyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid used by the greyhound racing industry as a way to suppress estrus and prevent a loss of race days. Stidham also sold DIY medical kits as well as whips for use in breeding and racing kennels. Read more here.

Greyhound racing in Iowa was regulated by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission which enforced all pari-mutuel wagering rules. In 2017, a total of $1,281,104 was wagered on live greyhound racing at Iowa’s Dubuque track, a decline of 41.7% from 2007.⁵