Couple loses appeal of suit against Bluffs run dog track

A couple who owned a kennel that ran dogs on the Bluffs Run track in Council Bluffs has lost their lawsuit against the track managers. Arthur and Beverly Yates got a contract to race greyhounds at the track in 1998. But in 2001, the track did not renew its contract with the Yates because their dogs finished at or near the bottom in most races. This was discussed openly at a state Racing and Gaming Commission meeting, and the couple filed a lawsuit for slander, and also claimed their dogs didn’t run well and were frequently injured because of poor track conditions.A jury agreed with the couple, and awarded them damages. The track appealed, and the Court of Appeals has ruled the couple didn’t prove that they were slandered or that the track surface caused specific injuries to their dogs. The couple could appeal the decision to the Iowa Supreme Court.