FL House Rejects Greyhound Bill

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida House has rejected a Senate version of a bill allowing greyhound-dog tracks to drop live racing but keep card tables and other betting games.

House members acted Thursday. Senators had tacked on an amendment to the bill (HB 1145) that lets certain tracks use tax breaks for dog-racing profits and apply them to card-game revenue instead.

Time is dwindling for a final version of the bill as the legislative session is set to end Friday night.

Supporters of the bill say it was not intended to end dog racing but to allow financially-struggling tracks to stay open with other betting options.

Opponents say the bill will result in an overall expansion of gambling.

There are 13 working dog tracks in Florida.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)