Deb Bohannon, Jack Collins, Jr., Barbara Collins & Chris Collins It’s hard to miss the huge white building with its westward-running greyhound against the red stripe on the wall on University Parkway. Since 1929, the Sarasota Kennel Club (941.355.7744 | sarasotakennelclub.com) has been a part of the Sarasota landscape, and since 1944 — when it was purchased for back taxes of $5,005 by a policeman, motorcycle stunt man, and circus owner named Jerry Collins — the Collins family name has gone hand-in-hand with it. 68 SCENE | MAY 2017 Sarasota Kennel Club Today, third-generation member Jack Collins Junior, who’s been helping with the day-to-day operations since 1986, runs it. When his father passed away a few years back, Jack was ready to carry on the family legacy, along with the help of his brother Chris and sister Debbie. While of course there is live dog racing, much of Sarasota Kennel Club’s success comes from revenue from One-Eyed Jack’s, its state-of-the-art poker room. With 35 poker tables and plasma TVs everywhere, it’s a great smoke-free environment to try out the live action cash games and the single or multi-table tournaments. Jack says, “We’ve got 18-year-old people playing against 80-year-old people. We’ve got inexpensive options as well as no-limit games. There’s something for everyone.” I was born and raised here,” says Jack, “and so was my dad. The Collins family has been here nearly a century. We’re a part of this unique, beautiful community and we love it. It’s got a terrific atmosphere, the people are great, the weather is first-rate, and the beaches can’t be beat. And during season, we have over 300 employees who are like family working here, so we get a chance to know so many of the great people who call this area their home.”
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