When Idaho banned dog racing in 1996 amid concerns over reported abuse of greyhounds raced at a North Idaho dog track, the law was firm and far-reaching: It made dog racing a felony. But now, various other types of non-gambling dog racing events, from a planned, but canceled, country radio station wiener-dog race last spring dubbed “Rick and Carly's Arena-Wiena Cross” to an exhibition dog race that several county fairs are interested in booking next summer, are raising questions about how whether the law went too far.

This morning, Rep. Clark Kauffman, R-Filer, introduced legislation to create an exception from the dog-racing ban specifically for the proposed event at several county fairs in southern Idaho. It would exempt “exhibition-style live dog races conducted at county fairs and upon which no pari-mutuel betting occurs”/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

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