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W.Va. breeder subsidies total $77.5M since 2002

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia greyhound breeders have received $77.5 million in subsidies since 2002, according to an analysis of records obtained by the Daily Mail.

In response to a public records request, the West Virginia Racing Commission provided the Daily Mail with a summary of how much every single greyhound breeder in the state has received through the Greyhound Breeder Development Fund dating back more than a decade.

Although the fund, which derives from both pari-mutuel distributions and gambling operations, began after being authorized by the state Legislature in 1975, the commission was only able to provide data from 2002 to now.

Since then, subsidy payments to breeders annually have ranged from $4 million to $7 million.

In 2007, $7.5 million in subsidies were handed out to the state’s greyhound breeders, which was the most of any year since 2002.

So far for 2015, $1.2 million has been awarded to breeders, as of May 15.

Unlike the state’s Thoroughbred Development Fund, greyhound breeders are required to live in West Virginia. The breeders are provided monthly payments that are based on the performance of their dogs.

“The development fund payments are based on points earned for a month,” said Joe Moore, the commission’s acting executive director.

As has been the case in recent years, the vast majority of payments went to a small handful of families, individuals and businesses…

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