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< Back WVGOBA KEYSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF Stan Pawloski Greyhounds from three different kennels posted victories Friday afternoon in the first round of the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Keystone (3/8th) Championship at Wheeling Island. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Wild Blue Bee, Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s JAS Strait Aces and Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Dirty Skinny registered first-round wins. Each accumulated 15 points and the top spot on the leaderboard. The second round will be held Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11. The semi-finals are set for Sunday, Oct. 15, and the Keystone Championship is scheduled for Saturday matinee, Oct. 21. Capsule looks at the first-round races follow: Wild Blue Bee took command early and never looked back in romping to a 5 ½-length victory in 38.61. CG’s Delete and CET Miguel closed in the stretch to round out the trifecta ticket. JAS Strait Aces rallied from last after a slow break, getting up by a length at the wire in 39.10. CET Dirty Toodle finished strong for second while Wild Chomp Dude took third. CET Dirty Skinny flew by the leaders on the backstretch and never let up in rolling to a 10 ½-length victory in 37.99. CET Zinc powered home for second followed TS Woody. Points after the first-round follow: CET Dirty Skinny (Steve Sarras), 15 points JAS Strait Aces (Patriot/Taplin), 15 points Wild Blue Bee (Xtrem Hess Racing), 15 points CET Dirty Toodls (Steve Sarras), 10 points CG’s Delete (Code Red), 10 points CET Zinc (Imark), 10 points CET Miguel (Steve Sarras), 7 points TS Woody (Steve Sarras), 7 points Wild Chomp Dude (Xtrem Hess Racing), 7 points CET Beta (Steve Sarras), 5 points CET Marlin (Imark), 5 points Apollo Justice (Steve Sarras), 3 points Raise The Wind (Steve Sarras), 3 points TS Porky (Steve Sarras), 3 points CET Perch (Steve Sarras), 2 points Trade Up (Steve Sarras), 2 points Aaralynn Jean (Patriot/Taplin), 1 point Arroyo Kingston (Code Red), 1 point CET Murray (Wayne Ward), 1 point Baccarat (Steve Sarras), 0 points TS Overbite Ovie (Steve Sarras), 0 points (Rico’s Hell Yeah was scratched before the first round, CET Mist was withdrawn after the first round and CET Helga received a checked ticket from the judges and eliminated from the stakes). Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs (as December 12, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted) Stan Pawloski Dec 12, 2022 Lester Raines Kennel’s O Ya Fame has three straight victories (A, AA) for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates JS Big Rig has won four in a row (M, D, C, B) while JS Mismarymackin has back-to-back wins (A, AA). Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Edward has two victories and two seconds in his last four Grade AA trips for trainer James Campbell. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Marlyn Mason has two wins and a second in her last three Grade AA outings for trainer Louise Strong. Code Red Kennel’s O Ya Paws has back-to-back Grade AA victories for trainer Tom Engle. Rangel Kennel’s Pat C Dog Patch has two straight Grade AA wins for trainer Alex Hall. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Xtrem Begonia has back-to-back Grade TAA 3/16 victories for trainer Jill Spicer. Steve Sarras Kennel’s WW Crowd Control has four wins and a second in her first five career races (M, D, C, B) for trainer Jay Falcone. Blanchard Kennel’s Elliot’s Chase has captured three out of his last four trips (M, C, B) for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of November 22, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Nov 23, 2021 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Big D has five straight Grade TAA 3/8 victories for trainer Joel Roden. Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Heart has won five out of her last six Grade AA starts for trainer James Campbell. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s Fly Bullet Train has two wins and a second in her last three Grade AA races for trainer Joe Otto. Code Red Kennel’s Mr Einstein has back-to-back Grade AA victories for trainer Tom Engle. Blanchard Kennel’s Fiddlin Frog (A, AA) and Arkans Ballarat (B, A) have back-to-back wins for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Imark Kennel’s Tickle Ur Fancy has two straight victories (A, AA) for trainer DiAnn Derr. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s JW Ladyluck has won four out of her last five outings (D, C, B, A) for trainer Louise Strong. Previous Next

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< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs (as December 19, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted) Stan Pawloski Dec 19, 2022 Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Dirty Dan has won seven out of his last eight Grade AA races for trainer Jay Falcone. Charter Kennel’s Atta Boy Angus has six wins and six seconds in his last 12 races in 3/16 for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mates Oshkosh Edward has three victories and two seconds in his last five Grade AA outings while Oshkosh Nancy has back-to-back wins (A, AA). Code Red Kennel’s O Ya Paws has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Tom Engle. Kennel-mate FF Quarterback has back-to-back wins (B, A). Lester Raines Kennel’s O Ya Simon Sez has two victories, a second and a third in his last four Grade AA trips for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates O Ya Trisha (TA, TAA 3/16) and JS Headline News (B, A) have back-to-back wins. Previous Next

< Back PASSIONATE TEAM EFFORT SAVES WV GREYHOUND RACING Stan Pawloski Feb 24, 2020 Greyhound racing in West Virginia came under attack again this year. A bill introduced by Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, in the current legislative session would have eliminated the Greyhound Breeding Development Fund on July 1. Passage of Senate Bill 285 would most likely deal “a death blow” to greyhound racing, according to West Virginia Kennel Owners Association President Steve Sarras. At risk were up to 1,700 jobs directly and indirectly related to greyhound racing in the state as well as a far-reaching negative economic impact locally and statewide. The greyhound industry, local lawmakers and countless communities inside and outside of racing joined hands in a team effort with a single goal in mind – save the sport. They persevered, never yielded and battled tooth and nail – eventually prevailing. Last week, Senate Bill 285 – directing roughly $17 million from the Greyhound Breeding Development Fund to the State Excess Lottery Fund – was rejected by a solid 23-11 margin. All 14 Democratic senators were joined by nine Senate Republicans to kill the bill. In 2017, both the Senate and House approved a similar bill before it was vetoed by Gov. Jim Justice. “This year sends a powerful message. The bill, sponsored by the Senate president (Carmichael), was defeated on the Senate floor with 67 percent of the vote and bipartisan support,” Sarras said. “I can’t say enough about the passion of our greyhound community, our lawmakers and the support we received from people in and out of the industry. We owe them all a debt of gratitude – they saved the greyhound industry.” Local senators leading the push for greyhound racing were Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, and Bill Ihlenfeld, D-Ohio, who both spoke on the Senate floor before the vote, and Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Although the legislation never made it to the House, Sarras said Delegates Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, and Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, were “very involved and engaged. “All of our lawmakers were champions and did a fantastic job of finding out all the facts about greyhound racing and educating other lawmakers to the truth,” Sarras said. “Some had no idea how greyhound racing impacts other businesses, benefits all 55 counties in the state and is not a state subsidy.” It was no secret the greyhound industry would be targeted this year in West Virginia by the out-of-state, anti-racing group Grey2K. The latter had a hand in the approval of Amendment 13 in Florida which ends greyhound racing in that state in December 2020. Late last year, Grey2K Executive Director Carey Theil confirmed in a Charleston Gazette-Mail story he had a dialogue with Carmichael and indicated West Virginia “will be, speaking for us, an unprecedented lobbying campaign in terms of investment in every sense. In terms of substantial financial investment, time and focus.” For years, the Massachusetts-based Grey2K organization has used questionable tactics and spread misinformation concerning the greyhound industry to deceive the public. They tried it this year in West Virginia, but their sales pitch failed miserably. Grey2K depicted greyhound racing as a dying industry (their poll claimed most West Virginians want it eliminated), an inhumane sport and supported by state tax dollars. “A paid poll by an out-of-state special interest group (Grey2K) asked pointed questions to illicit pointed responses. It was discredited when 67 percent of the Senate voted to keep greyhound racing,” Sarras noted. “Their claims of cruel and inhumane treatment of greyhounds was discredited too. We had first-hand accounts from Sen. Ryan Weld and Sen. Bill Ihlenfeld who both visited the kennels and were impressed with how the greyhounds are treated.” On the Senate floor before the vote, Weld disputed a claim by Carmichael that one greyhound dies at the two racetracks in West Virginia every 10 days. West Virginia Racing Commission public record over the last five years didn’t support those claims. Sarris said the opposition’s numbers focused on more than a decade old kennel cough and influenza epidemic that lead to numerous deaths in not only the greyhound population but the entire canine population. Weld took exception to another claim by Carmichael and Grey2K that greyhound racing is “an industry in decline.” Over the past 10 years, the handle on greyhound racing increased 34 percent, from $92 million in 2010 to $124 million in 2019, Weld said. During the same period, the handle for horse racing decreased 15 percent. “To say this is an industry in decline, that’s simply a misnomer,” Weld said. After the Florida tracks close their doors at the end of 2020 and Arkansas in December 2022, only a handful of states will still offer greyhound racing nationwide. Ihlenfeld, speaking to his fellow senators, feels this is the time for West Virginia to build the business. “There aren’t many industries in our state that we control. We’re getting close to being the only game in town when it comes to this industry,” Ihlenfeld said. “Instead of kicking this to the curb, we ought to embrace it. We ought to modernize it. We ought to make it even better and allow even more people to send money to West Virginia.” Ihlenfeld is right, there will be a greyhound racing market out there and West Virginia has an opportunity to capture it. Grey2K’s claim the greyhound industry is supported by state tax dollars was discredited in the Senate Finance Committee meeting. Richie Heath, a lobbyist for Grey2K, finally admitted the racing industry is not funded by a state subsidy after being grilled by Ihlenfeld and Maroney. The money in the Greyhound Breeding Development Fund comes directly from a percentage of wagers placed at the racinos – not a state subsidy, Sarras said. People who never go to the casino do not put up one dime for the fund. The potential loss of hundreds and hundreds of jobs in the greyhound industry caught the attention of lawmakers. Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, who acknowledged he does not support legalized gambling, said the Senate Bill 285 was a job-killer. “As a state, we are always willing to take a job away from someone else, to take jobs away from someone else’s area. All we have to do is look at Southern West Virginia to see how that’s worked,” Smith said. “I voted to end greyhound racing twice … in good conscience, I can’t vote today to do away with these people’s jobs.” Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron, voicing support for greyhound racing before the Senate Finance Committee, said approval of the bill would be “catastrophic” to the city. “The (Wheeling Island casino) itself is a large employer for the city of Wheeling, one of the largest employers and one of our largest taxpayers,” Herron said. “The short term would obviously be an impact on the city’s budget for revenue directly from dog racing.” Sarras, who relocated to West Virginia years ago from Massachusetts after receiving a kennel booking at Wheeling Island, feels for the racing workers. “I see people in tears because they don’t know from year to year if they are going to have a job. That isn’t right. These workers pay taxes and raise families here in the state,” Sarras said. “They are tough individuals and take pride in being a West Virginian. They are not going to be bullied.” Wheeling Island President and General Manager Kim Florence said day-to-day operations at the facility will continue as they have since greyhound racing was launched 1976. “We’re going to continue to run live racing with the highest standards of performance and safety of our greyhounds,” Florence said. “We’ve been doing that for 40 plus years now, and we’re going to continue to do so.” Previous Next

NGA Endorsed Adoption Groups - RI Back to Adoption Groups Conneciticut Greyound Adoption - GPA Connecticut, Rhode Island Website Prev Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of April 19, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Apr 19, 2021 Abrahamson Kennel’s Atascocita Birma has four wins and a second in her last five Grade AA starts for trainer Tom Engle. Blanchard Kennel’s Frappe has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Wayne Ward Kennel’s SH Avenger has won three out of his last four 3/16 trips (AA, TAA) for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mates JD Replicate (TAA 3/16) and WW Holdin Fast (B, A) have back-to-back wins. Steve Sarras Kennel’s Kells Xterra has three victories and a second in his last four Grade AA races for trainer Barb Long. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Abbi’s Frontman has captured three out of his last four Grade AA outings for trainer Alisha Nichols. Lester Raines Kennel’s Rooftop Rachelle has three straight 3/8 wins (C, B, TA) for trainer Joel Roden. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Axtrem Flicker has back-to-back victories (A, AA) for trainer Jill Spicer. Previous Next

NGA Endorsed Adoption Groups - CT Back to Adoption Groups Conneciticut Greyound Adoption - GPA Connecticut, Rhode Island Website Grateful Greyhounds New Jersey, New York, Connecticut Website Prev Next

< Back National Greyhound Association Appoints Connie Karsmizki as Secretary-Treasurer Feb 18, 2026 Longtime NGA Leader to Serve as Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Following December Retirement ABILENE, KS – The National Greyhound Association (NGA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Connie Karsmizki as Secretary-Treasurer, the organization's chief administrative and financial officer. Mrs. Karsmizki assumes the role following Jim's retirement in December 2025, bringing more than 40 years of dedicated service to the greyhound industry. Throughout her distinguished career with the NGA, Karsmizki has served faithfully as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, working under the guidance of exceptional executive directors as Jim Gartland and Hall of Famer Gary Guccione, and gaining comprehensive knowledge of every facet of the organization's operations. Her deep understanding of member services, financial oversight, registry management, and National Meets coordination positions her uniquely to lead the NGA into its next chapter. "Connie's four decades of commitment to the National Greyhound Association and the greyhound industry speak for themselves," said Julia Ward, President of the NGA Board of Directors. "Her institutional knowledge, proven leadership, and unwavering dedication to our members make her the ideal person to guide our organization forward." As Secretary-Treasurer, Karsmizki will oversee daily operations of the NGA office, manage member services, provide financial oversight, coordinate National Meets, and serve as Keeper of the Stud Book. She will work closely with the NGA Board of Directors while providing leadership to office staff and contractors. "I am honored to continue serving the organization and membership that have been such an important part of my life," said Karsmizki. "The NGA has a proud history, and I look forward to building on that legacy while ensuring we continue to serve our members and protect the integrity of the greyhound registry." The National Greyhound Association, founded in 1906, maintains the official registry for racing greyhounds in the United States and coordinates the annual National Greyhound Meet. The organization is dedicated to preserving the breed standard and supporting the greyhound racing and adoption communities. For more information, please contact: National Greyhound Association 785.263.4660, Previous Next

< Back WILD BLUE BEE CAPTURES $65,000 WVGOBA KEYSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP Stan Pawloski Oct 24, 2023 Wild Blue Bee closed strong in the stretch to capture the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Keystone (3/8th) Championship Stakes at Wheeling Island Saturday afternoon. Breaking from the three-hole, Wild Blue Bee – racing out of the Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel and trained by Jill Spicer – bided his time behind the frontrunners before storming home on the rail to edge out CET Dirty Skinny (Steve Sarras Kennel) by half a length at the wire. Pacesetter CET Marlin (Imark Kennel) settled for third. Completing the final order of finish were CET Dirty Toodls (Steve Sarras Kennel), fourth; TS Woody (Steve Sarras Kennel), fifth; Wild Chomp Dude (Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel), sixth; CET Zink (Imark Kennel), seventh; and JAS Strait Aces (Patriot/Taplin Kennel), eighth. Wild Blue Bee, an October 2021 greyhound out of Barcelona Boss-XT Out N Gone, has 5 wins, 2 thirds and 3 fourths in 14 starts at Wheeling Island this year and finished fourth in the WVGOBA Juvenile in September. He is owned by Randall L. Crabtree. Previous Next

Join the National Greyhound Association for up-to-date information about US greyhound racing, breeding, and industry news. Gain access to an exclusive social platform designed for greyhound fans, Membership Types At the National Greyhound Association, we offer three different levels of membership: Full, Associate, and Ambassador. Each level provides exclusive access to different benefits, including access to the latest news and updates in the greyhound racing industry. Choose the level that works best for you and join us in supporting our mission of ensuring the well-being of greyhounds. Join **A 4.5% convenience fee is applied for all online renewals, forms, transfers & purchases. This helps cover our merchant service costs. Some products may require paid shipping. Full Member Become a Full Member with the National Greyhound Association and gain access to exclusive benefits, including voting rights, owning and registering racing greyhounds, and receiving The Greyhound Review, Breeding and Whelping Reports, Auction and all relevant standings. Stay up to date with regular weekly email blasts from the National Greyhound Association. You will also have access to all relevant member only sections of our website and the NGA’s new Social Portal for only $130 annually. Associate Member Are you ready to become part of our National Greyhound Association as an Associate Member? Associate Members can register and race greyhounds as owners. Associate Members also receive The Greyhound Review, Breeding and Whelping reports, and any relevant standings, as well as regular weekly email blasts from the National Greyhound Association. Associate Members have access to online Auction, Breeding and Whelping Reports as well as the NGA’s new Social Portal. Stay informed and experience the thrill of the race with us today for just $105 annually. Ambassador Member As an Ambassador Member, you will be showing your unwavering support for the National Greyhound Association while staying up to date on industry news. Our weekly email blasts and Social Portal will keep you connected and informed. Although this membership level does not include race dog ownership, voting or breeding rights, it is a fantastic way to stay engaged with the sport while also contributing to the well-being of these magnificent animals for just $25 annually.