The regular session or the West Virginia Legislature does not begin for two months, but that did not stop the executive director of Grey2K from launching a preemptive attack against the greyhound industry at two racetracks in the Mountain State.
Del. Erikka Storch (R-3), however, immediately countered the organization’s executive director, Carey Theil, on social media very soon after the interview was released by W.Va. Metro News.
“Clearly, it was a slow news day in Charleston,” Storch said. “But I am also familiar with the antics of the organization and of the executive director, so nothing really surprises me when it comes to how they go about doing what they do. What he is failing to acknowledge is that (former Senate president) Mitch Carmichael, who hung his hat on eliminating greyhound racing, was voted out of office in the primary.
“Plus, when Carmichael tried to force the issue down the throats of the Senate members, he lost because so many of the members realized that the accusations were false and that it was all based on lies,” she said. “Sen. Ryan Weld (R-1) is a huge advocate of the greyhounds, and he has taken the time to visit kennels and speak with employees of this industry. He has even recently adopted a greyhound. I think some people thought it was going to be close, but it wasn’t even close (11-23).”
A Subsidy?
Greyhound racing takes place at two of West Virginia’s four casinos, Mardis Gras in the Charleston area, and at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Theil has promoted diverting the funds that fortify the purses for the dog races to roadway improvements and other expenses, claiming that the estimated $14 million is a government subsidy.
The dollars, however, are generated by patrons of the casino and not be the taxpayers of the Mountain State.
“That’s why it’s become personal between me and Carey Theil because I do not appreciate him coming to my state and lying about everything,” Storch said. “He is so disingenuous when he comes into our community and tries to erase real jobs. What is Grey2K going to do about those lost jobs? Are they going to find new employment for more than 1,100 people in this region of the state? The simple answer is no.
“If all of those jobs were to suddenly go away, the ripple effects would impact so many more people here in the Northern Panhandle and East Ohio,” she said. “The greyhound industry spends a lot of money in this area to operate, and that’s something that Carey Theil doesn’t want to talk about.”
Targeting
The Grey2K organization has campaigned against state lawmakers who have been supportive of the greyhound racing industry in the past, including Storch and Del. Shawn Fluharty (D-3), but they fell silent in the Northern Panhandle during the most recent election cycle. Theil insinuated during the interview with Metro News that the organization would continue the practices in the future.
Bu that may not matter when the Legislature returned to the state capital in February.
“At one time, eliminating the greyhound industry was a state Republican agenda item, but that has been pulled off the agenda for the next regular session, so it probably won’t be an objective when we finally return to Charleston,” Storch said. “Now, that won’t stop Grey2K from trying to make some noise, and I know some members in the House are still in favor, but I think most of the members realize that it was based on lies and will be in the future, too.
“The fact that the director is still trying the same old misinformation and falsehoods drives me absolutely nuts,” she said. “(Theil) is still trying to say that the $14 million is a subsidy from the taxpayers, and by now we all know that is far from fact. Every time he tries to make people believe that, I will counter him each time. He’s not coming into my state and lying to the people of West Virginia.”
Since the Bicentennial
Greyhound racing began on Wheeling Island in 1976 and currently operates Wednesday through Sunday with a 1 p.m. post time each day. Ohio County voters approved the implementation of table games in the mid-2000s as long the casino and live racing were coupled. That means no live racing, no table games.
The two industries, the lawmaker reported, assist each other with the attraction of casino patrons.
“You can go the Meadowlands, and there’s a casino, and you can go to Pittsburgh, and there is a casino, but the one unique thing about coming to the Wheeling Island casino is that there’s greyhound racing,” Storch said. “And the cross play is huge, and the handle for the dog races has increased because there are so many people who support the industry.
“Let’s not forget that several families have relocated to this area because of this industry. Steve Sarras (Sarras Kennels) is a great example because he’s from New England and is a trained physical therapist, but he moved here and has one of the most successful kennels in the industry,” she said. “He’s raised a family here, and he’s not the only one, but Grey2K will not tell you about those success stories. Instead, they just want to lie about everything.”
