Al Ross

The history of the sport and industry of greyhound racing is rich in lore, characters and innovation. Expansion and growth have been guided by men and women with great business acumen, vision and a distinct love of the sport.

The roots are deeply set because of the well-developed infrastructure put into place by the visionaries, the managers, and those committed to the excellence and success of the sport.

Few, if any, have done more to expand, enrich, and shepherd the causes of greyhound racing than Al Ross, and I hereby nominate him for induction into the Greyhound _Hall of Fame.

No job has ever too big or too small for Al at any time during his illustrious forty-year career in greyhound racing. If there was a job at the dog track Al did it, from raking the

first turn to selling programs to holding the CEO position at six tracks, Taunton, Mile High, Interstate, Sodrac, Pueblo and Lincoln. Further, raking the turn and selling programs were functions performed even as a CEO.

His respect for the pioneers of the sport, his love for the animal, and his desire to create a healthy business climate for sensible growth of the sport pushed him to make several significant contributions to greyhound racing,

Among his contributions are :

one of the original founders and major contributors to the hall of fame

President of the AGTOA

Innovator, Pioneered winter racing in cold weather climates

These three contributions exemplify the total sharing of one’s time, talent and treasure. His leadership as AGTOA president during a turbulent time, lead to well thought out solutions to sensitive industry issues. Better relations between AGTOA and NGA followed as did a growth and expansion of the industry never before witnessed.

He led with personality and with good sense and with most importantly an ear for yesterday and an eye on tomorrow.

A good manager always plays ” What if? ” with his team in preparation for any conceivable situation. This, Al taught and employed to it’s greatest use in 1968, when it was his thought to have a year round racing circuit in-Colorado.

From 1919 in Emeryville, California until 1970 in Byers, Colorado (Pop. 500), greyhound racing closed up shop in cold weather climates, tracks were closed and the greyhounds migrated south for the winter. Fifty one years after this trend Al Ross took the major gamble with Interstate Kennel Club that eventually paved the way for every state, warm or cofd weather climate to embrace greyhound racing.

Interstate’s opening night was like none other to date, as six miles of bumper to bumper traffic, that had driven forty miles from Denver to see the puppies run in the winter. It was only the beginning……..The gamble paid off handsomely and today greyhound racing is enjoyed in nineteen states, whereas before Al Ross’ Interstate there were only seven states with greyhound racing.

This development alone makes Al Ross one of the major contributors to the sport, but , it is the total package Al has given, as an official, as a track operator and as a friend to the sport and industry of greyhound racing that makes him most worthy as an inductee into The Greyhound Hall of Fame.