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Voters will decide the fate of greyhound racing in November

The Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC) has approved eight revisions to be placed on the 2018 General Election ballot, including greyhound racing.

The Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC) has approved eight revisions to be placed on the 2018 General Election ballot, including greyhound racing.

If the public votes to end dog racing, it would phase out by Dec. 31, 2020, according to the CRC. However, 60 percent of voters would have to approve it for the constitutional amendment to go into effect.

First Coast News has been investigating greyhound racing at Bestbet in Orange Park. We first found that more than a dozen dogs were found with traces of cocaine in their system. Later, we found out that there were 23 cases.

READ MORE: Five more greyhounds test positive for cocaine at Bestbet Orange Park

The proposal is opposed by trade associations for greyhound owners and trainers.

GREY2K USA, a greyhound protection organization, responded to the news with the following statement:

This is a major victory for everyone in the state who cares about dogs.

Commercial greyhound racing is cruel and inhumane. Every three days, a greyhound dies at a Florida dog track. Greyhounds endure lives of confinement, and many suffer serious injuries. Over the past decade, there have been more than 400 greyhound drug positives in Florida including dogs that tested positive for cocaine, opiates, and other serious drugs."

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