America's Last Race - Documentary Film

In 2023 there are only two active greyhound racetracks left in America. It is a controversial sport that is being shut down everywhere in the country and that experiences massive online resistance from Facebook groups and independent websites. Allegations of doping and mistreatment of the dogs fuels the debate among animal rights activists, but the conditions for the dogs seem to be quite the opposite. In fact, as dog keeper Charlene says while feeding Ninja a vanilla biscuit, "They live a better life than we do. They have a purpose."

The documentary follows Donna and Anne, two work wives, and their family of colleagues at the racetrack. Donna has tried to leave the business multiple times to work at the tanning salon, while Anne tried out accounting. But they couldn't keep away. The dogs are like an addiction, they say, better than drugs.

America's Last Race is a documentary about a West Virginian community's struggle to survive in a time where many small towns suffer the cruel fate of de-industrialization. With little industry left in the rust belt, there might be hope for some racetrack-tourism in the "flyover state", if they can keep the sport alive and the activists at the gate.

The funds that we (the directors) seek to raise will support further production of the documentary on location in Wheeling, West Virginia.