Firefighters show support for greyhound racing in Wheeling

WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling firefighters were joined by the public on Friday for a day at the races.

The event was held to show support for Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and the greyhound industry. They say they hope lawmakers will leave the industry alone.

"If you cut the funding, you lose jobs,” said Jason Milton, vice president, Wheeling Fire Department, Local 12. “Cut customers from the casino and obviously we could lose money in our pension fund.”

On Friday, the group placed bets on the greyhounds at the track. They also enjoyed lunch, conversation with kennel owners and spread the word. That they support greyhound racing in West Virginia.

"Because of recent legislation dropped on them to cut the breeder fund, and obviously it is a trickle-down effect," Milton said.

Recently, W.Va. Governor Jim Justice vetoed a bill that passed through the legislature that would have dissolved the greyhound breeders fund.

Now, a group of nine republican lawmakers have introduced a similar bill.

Steve Latacz says his family and friends enjoy spending time at the racetrack. He says he was pleased to see the fire department supporting an industry he says is important.

"For the life of me, I don't know why they would want to destroy 1,700 jobs in the state of W.Va. That's a lot of jobs. And greyhound racing is important to Wheeling and Charleston, but they're not attacking the horse racing industry and essentially it isn't government money.”

City leaders in Wheeling plus, the firefighters, say they are paying close attention again to House Bill 119.