Guyasuta Kennel Club

In 1930, a small group of Pittsburgh gambling racketeers opened a dog racing track in an O’Hara Township amusement park and called it the Guyasuta Kennel Club. They were plagued with trouble from the get-go. Mechanical problems and deadly accidents involving the dogs attracted the attention of law enforcement and a month-long battle ensued to close the track, where illegal betting openly took place. This heavily illustrated program explores the dog track’s short history and the stories of the racketeers who owned it.

Dr. David Rotenstein is a historian writer documenting the social history of vice in Pittsburgh. He is the proprietor of Steel City Vice (walking tours, public programs) and a contributor to local magazines and news sites. David wrote about the Sanders Inn for Shady Ave magazine in early 2023.