Twin River Greyhound Track Suspends Dog-racing

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island -- As reported by the Providence Journal: "Owners of the Twin River greyhound track and slot parlor have put the state on notice they intend to 'suspend' dog-racing on May 31.

"In
  a letter hand-delivered to the head of racing and athletics at the state Department of Business Regulation on Tuesday, Twin River vice president and general counsel Craig L. Eaton wrote: 'This correspondence is to inform the DBR of the indefinite suspension of racing dates for the balance of 2009 as of May 31 ... [when] Twin River will have run its legally-mandated one hundred twenty-five (125) racing dates for year 2009.'

"The letter did not elaborate. But the action came little more than a week after Twin River's owners announced that the Carcieri administration had broken off months of closed-door talks 'regarding the possible state takeover or purchase of the gaming venue.'

"And Twin River spokeswoman Patti Doyle described the action as the first in a series of steps being taken in preparation for a possible bankruptcy filing by the slot parlor in Lincoln, whose owners have been struggling to pay back $565 million in outstanding loans they acquired in 2005-06 to buy, expand and renovate the sprawling gambling hall in Lincoln..."