United Florida Horsemen officials will be on hand in Tallahassee Tuesday (Feb. 9) to represent racehorse owners, trainers and breeders at two legislative committees scheduled to take up gambling-related bills that could devastate Florida's horse racing industry by allowing 'decoupling.'

The Florida House of Representatives' Regulatory Affairs Committee meets today at 11:30 a.m. (EST), followed by the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee which meets at 1:30 p.m.

To access meeting materials for each, click below:

• House Regulatory Affairs Meeting Packet (Updated)
• Senate Regulated Industries Meeting Packet

To watch the hearings via live webcast, go to thefloridachannel.org, or click here for the House video and click here for the Senate video.

• For links to House Bill analysis, click here
• For links to Senate Bill analysis, click here and here

Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred officials in attendance today include:

• Bill White, president of Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (Thoroughbred owners and trainers)

• Steve Fisch, executive director of the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association (AQHA) and Florida Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners Association

• Joe Pennacchio, president of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association

Horsepeople expect legislators to consider a casino-driven proposal of a decoupled ‘purse pool’ arrangement that would essentially create an artificial sheltered set-aside, rather than the current free market that lets states compete against one another for horse racing business – meaning the best horses, owners, trainers, jockeys and drivers. The proposal would let casino-owned pari-mutuel permit holders – not market forces – dictate how Florida's horse racing investors and small businesses recoup their return, instead of through a dependable schedule of live racing days and market-driven competitive purses.

(United Florida Horsemen)