One thing poker and greyhound racing have in common: underdogs go home unloved and empty handed.

It is not the most unlikely marriage between two disparate sports. Picture chasing after the elusive Royal Flush in between watching greyhounds chasing after artificial bunnies – it’s odd and true.

Greyhound racing, a.k.a. dog racing, is as old as the 1900s. It is certainly younger than horse racing, which has been around since the Ancient Romans’ chariot races; and appeals to a relatively narrower audience.

But this is an age born to mouthful concepts like market expansion. And so, too, the dogs must lick new masters’ hands. Poker is being hoped to grow the greyhound racing business and bring in more people.

Florida, a dog racing capital, is kind of like an unofficial torch carrier of this new game combo. In fact, the Sunshine State’s greyhound race tracks put up poker tables way ahead of its horse racing tracks, which were hindered by law from so doing until the ’90s.

The 74-year-old Palm Beach Kennel Club runs a poker room including No Limit and Pot Limit Texas Hold ‘em poker. The 72-year-old Hollywood Greyhound Track’s own card room offers Texas Hold ‘em, 7 Card Stud, and Omaha Hi-Lo games.

The Daytona Beach Kennel Club features 7 Card Stud, Texas Hold ‘em , 5 Card Stud, and more, along with a mutuel teller inside its poker room. Pompano Park Racing & Poker as well as Miami’s Flagler Greyhound Racing and Poker are also actively pushing their card rooms.

Typical hours for poker play are from noon to midnight daily, especially during live races.

Come on now: who among you chumps owns one of those freaky paintings of dogs playing cards? Wear it with pride, brother. Your crass objet d’art just got unbelievably trendy.

Did you know…

• Million Dollar Freeroll 3 is set for July 2006? [Paradise]
• Sundays are $100K guaranteed poker tournaments [Bodog]
• $100M Jackpot hand at Titan is statistically possible? Use bonus code lesson1.

yeah! So many freeroll tournaments so little time.