In 2016 Florida voters were bombarded with millions of dollars of ads and social media containing blatant misinformation about greyhound racing and blatant defamation of the workers in the industry.  You were told dogs were kept in cages 23 hours a day as well as misinformation claiming dogs were given cocaine.  Both of these were proven false.  The cocaine allegations were proven false TWICE in TWO separate Florida Administrative court cases as well as experts in the field as well as Florida DPBR personnel who started the misinformation, but were forced in court to admit the dogs were contaminated through environmental contamination.  Our State Legislators such as Carlos Smith, Tom Lee, Matt and Don Gaetz, Dana Young and others maintained the cocaine narrative despite the courts ruling, therefore contaminating the view of the Racing industry through their blatant lies and directly contradicting Florida Administrative Court decisions and expert testimony.  None of these legislators were directly or indirectly qualified to make such determinations.

To add to the blatant misinformation / defamation campaign, at the CRC Senator Tom Lee accused the industry of rampant abuse.  When confronted about the lack of prosecution of such heinous acts, he had no answer.  Senator Lee also blatantly lied about the cost to the State of Florida to regulate the racing industry.  He claimed it cost the state more to regulate than they took in which proved to be another blatant lie.  CRC Commissioner Beruff took it upon himself to call the Florida DBPR and was told it DID NOT cost more to regulate than they took in.  Another lie to Florida voters which turned them against Greyhound racing