Joseph Linsey
1982 - Greyhound Hall of Fame Inductee
Someone once called Joe Linsey “The greatest living symbol of greyhound racing.” That’s a title he definitely deserves.
As the owner of the Taunton, Lincoln, Mile High, Interstate, Pueblo, and Sodrac racetracks, he is one of the most influential people in the greyhound business. And he’s held such influence for many years.
His first experience with greyhounds came in 1940 when he purchased Taunton Greyhound Park. He took to the task of learning the business with great enthusiasm, and he turned Taunton into a showpiece.
He was instrumental in the organization of the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA), which represents the track operators today. He was the group’s first president.
Another of his great contributions to the greyhound industry was the high-purse stake race. When he offered a total purse of $25,000 for the first Taunton American Greyhound Derby in 1949, people throughout the country were flabbergasted. That race continues to be one of the most prestigious races in the country.
For 42 years, he has been the driving force in the greyhound industry. The list of his accomplishments is enormous. For these contributions, he will always be remembered as one of the great men who made the sport of greyhound racing into the reputable industry that it is today.
