AP - The Iowa Supreme Court Friday ruled against owners of a Council Bluffs kennel who claimed their reputation was damaged by comments made by an attorney for the dog track where they raced greyhounds.

Arthur and Beverly Yates raced greyhounds at Bluffs Run Casino
in 1998, 1999 and 2000, but saw a high number of injuries and
deaths involving their dogs the last two years. They say the
condition of the track caused their dogs' injuries.

The Yates also claimed their reputation was damaged when an
attorney for Bluffs Run, Lyle Ditmars, told state regulators that
the kennel and its dogs were -- quote -- ``substandard and poor
performers'' and were ranked toward the bottom of the list of
winners.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Ditmars' comments were based on
fact and were not slanderous. The court also has ruled that there
was insufficient medical evidence to show the condition of the
track contributed to the dogs' injuries.