Guam Greyhound Park closed its doors for the last time yesterday, which will cost at least 10 part-time employees their jobs, according to E.J. Calvo, Guam managing director for Bridge Capital LLC, which owns the dog track and other Guam property. The facility, which has been receiving between 250 and 300 tourists a night, has been failing financially, according to Calvo, who said last night's dog races would be the last for the 32-year old business. Guam Greyhound hoped to redevelop into a casino facility, Calvo said, but the defeat of the casino gaming initiative during Tuesday's General Election means Bridge Capital must close the facility's doors and look at other options. Prop A, which was put forward by Guam Greyhound owner John Baldwin, would have allowed Guam Greyhound to operate casino-style gambling at the Tamuning facility. The company also would have been required to make annual cash contributions to the community and build a $30 million convention center."I doubt we would be opening a dog race operation, unless someone else wants to take over the management and risk," Calvo said. "The business has been hurting for a long time. ... Now we need to just stop the bleeding and work on a new plan." According to Pacific Daily News files, the Greyhound facility in July 1990 averaged more than 800 customers a night. About two-thirds of its customers were tourists.
Calvo said races were held yesterday to honor existing tourist reservations, but 10 part-time employees no longer will be employed. The facility also has several full-time employees, he said, and some of those employees, such as maintenance workers, might keep their jobs and work at Bridge Capital's other properties. In a news release, Baldwin said he's listing the property for $15.9 million, and that he will consider joint ventures to reopen the facility or develop a new business there.
--- A Personal DC Blogger Note: I remember that greyhound track being a 'fixture in the guam cultural landscape'.
I never went to the track but it was 'always there' on the hill, driving to tumon via the hospital road...and
the dogs and races were always in the news. I remember KALAPANA playing an outdoor concert there as well! -- Mark
3 comments:
Well, the race track has had it's history of doggie abuse over the years. Old racing dogs don't usually have a happy end. I remember there were some articles in the PDN on the poor care given to the dogs under the management of a woman, who had started in the animal care business many years back working for Mr. Sparks at his pet store in Agana. I doubt she was really qualified to manage that dog track facility. Anyone remember Pet Land. I remember hanging around there all day on the weekends while Alice and Sam worked at the store. They had a nasty Cockatoo at the store named Napoleon which had a sweet tooth for sugar daddy candy and coke when it wasn't screeching and attacking.
I don't know anything about Greyhound racing, but I remember the track well too (but not its location for some reason). It is a true land mark.
'Greyhound Rescue' is a big thing hear in New York, as is 'Lab Rescue' (had one myself for 12 years). All the owners of the rescued Greyhounds that I have met talk about the abuse and neglect that the doggies went through. I'm sure there is a lot of true behind there testimonies.
And I too remember hanging out at Pet Land and Shells of Micronesia. Some of the best memories of my life on Guam. Anyone remember the tiger in the cage behind Shells of Micronesia? Believed it belonged to Mr. Kushing?
PS, just a side note for ya Mark. Got the cards in the mail today. They are the best I have ever seen! Tell your daughter she has a good thing going there!
Post a Comment