Southland Greyhound Park

Southland Greyhound Park is a greyhound racing park and casino in West Memphis, Arkansas. Over 400 greyhound races take place at the Park each year. Simulcast thoroughbred and greyhound races from other tracks around the United States are also offered. Begun in 1956, Southland was once the number one dog track in the United States. It was the only gambling site in the Mid-South and drew people from as far as Chicago.cite news | first=Andrew | last=Ashby | coauthors= | title=Off to the Races: Southland Chomps at Bit to Regain Lost Tourism Dollars | date=2006-06-05 | publisher=The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. | url =http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=30379 | work =Memphis Daily News | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-03 | language = ]

The facility, which offered pari-mutuel wagering, started facing stiff competition in the 1990s when casino gambling began in nearby Tunica, Mississippi. Its average daily betting handle dropped by 20 percent within the seven month period from October 1992 to March 1993.cite news | first=Dixie | last=Martin | coauthors= | title=Dog Days at Southland | date=1993-03-29 | publisher=Arkansas Business Limited Partnership | url =http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-regional/9257414-1.html | work =Arkansas Business | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-03 | language = ] In 1989, gamblers wagered $212 million on the live greyhound races at Southland. By 2005, that figure had dropped to $33.5 million.

As a result, the park's owner invested an estimated $40 millioncite news | first= | last=Editorial | coauthors= | title=New games make Southland park more competitive | date=2007-05-04 | publisher=American City Business Journals | url =http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/05/07/editorial1.html | work =Memphis Business Journal | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-04 | language = ] and since 2006 the facility has been revamped to include electronic games of skill, electronic Blackjack and video poker machines, following approval of the Arkansas General Assembly.cite web |url=http://www.southlandgreyhound.com/ |title=SouthlandGreyhound.com] Southland has added more than 300 new employees, making it the third largest employer in West Memphis with 660 employees.

Electronic gaming hours allowed at the facility were expanded in May 2008 by unanimous approval of the Arkansas Racing Commission to boost revenue and confront continued competition from the Mississippi casinos.

References

External links

* [http://www.southlandgreyhound.com/ Southland Greyhound Park]
* [http://www.crittendencountyarkansas.com/ Surrounding Community Information]