The Isle Casino at Pompano has asked the Florida State Racing commission to approve a reduction in the number of Standardbred racing days for the 2008-2009 race meet from 160 to 140
.
The Isle Casino at Pompano Park confirmed that they have applied for a summer Quarter Horse license. They have also advised the horsemen that the Standardbred meet will end on May 2, 2009, instead of the original schedule of August 2, 2009 as advertised on their stall application and as indicated to the state of Florida when they were issued their 2008-2009 racing dates.
In the memo from Steve Wolf, Director of Racing at Pompano, the horsemen were also notified that the stable area and the grooms quarters must be vacated by May 10, 2009. This includes all horses (400–800) and all personal property. Anything left behind will be discarded by management. To comply with these rules and have all the horses shipped in eight days will be a major task, if not impossible.
This change will have a devastating effect on Standardbred racing in Florida. It will not only put the breeding and Florida Sire Stakes programs in grave danger, it could spell the end of harness racing in Florida.
The FSBOA has tried to arrange a three-way conference call with The Isle management and the racing commission to discuss this change, but The Isle's management has decided it is not interested in working on a potential solution.
The FSBOA would advise anyone interested in saving Standardbred racing and breeding in Florida to contact their Florida State Representatives immediately by clicking on this link, especially Dave Roberts, Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
If you need the Representatives' names and e-mail addresses, call (954) 972-5400 or e-mail [email protected] and we will furnish you with this information.
(FSBOA)