Greyhound racing is nearing the finish line in Wisconsin.

Dairyland Greyhound Park, in Kenosha — the last operating track in the state –  announced Tuesday it will close its doors after racing ends Dec. 31.

Dairyland was one of five Wisconsin tracks that opened after a 1987 amendment to the state constitution allowed for a state-run lottery and legalized parimutuel betting. The others closed earlier, unable to compete with the state’s tribal casino offerings that began to emerge in the 1990s.

According to the Kenosha News, the 19-year-old track has lost $17 million over the last seven years.

Dairyland has remained in operation in recent years with the hope that the Menominee Nation wins federal and state approval to develop a $1 billion casino complex on the site. The tribe is now in litigation to overturn a January denial of the project.

Closing the track will put about 180 people out of work, and, track officials say, leave the 900 dogs that race at the facility in need of homes.

If you’re interest in adopting, here’s how to find a greyhound rescue near you.

This and the greyhound I posted a week or so ago, are from a day spent at the Renaissance Faire. The dogs were representatives of a rescue group and were in the spirit of the day. This one was just glowing inside a tent.

I admit it! I am a slacker. A broken refrigerator, rearranging my house to use my skylight and a busy day cleaning got me to ten tonight with NO DOG! So here is an oldie but goodie.

Some time ago I was at a Renaissance Faire and snapped a dog who was dressed like his master, a lord. Immortalized in oil, here is my OLDE Greyhound.

I got this blur of a greyhound at full out stretch and never could do justice to the photo. I am going to try a few more immediate sketches using watercolor and pen and ink to see if I can loosen up a bit and still get the impression of the dog... be kind, this is my first try: