With the demise of Standardbred and Quarter Horse racing in Florida after the passage of decoupling legislation in 2021 removed the requirement that slot machine gaming license holders must conduct live racing, Thoroughbred racing could face a similar fate in the Sunshine State.
Filed in the Florida House of Representatives on Jan. 6 and sponsored by Rep. Adam Anderson, House Bill 105 seeks to amend the licensing legislation by removing a requirement that a Thoroughbred permitholder must conduct live racing and removing certain slot machine gaming licensure requirements for Thoroughbred permitholders who are slot machine licensees regarding purse and breeders awards agreements with the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. If passed, the bill will take effect July 1, 2025.
Thoroughbred racing in the state is currently held at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, the former holds a slot machine gaming license and the latter a cardroom license.
The Stronach Group's 1/ST Racing, which operates Gulfstream Park with more than 200 live race days expected in 2025 as well as Palm Meadows training center, is pushing for decoupling to pursue opportunities for development, according to a press release from the company, which also stated the changes "ensures purse revenues are unaffected and provides for additional contributions by Gulfstream Park to horsemen’s workers’ compensation premiums and meaningful increases to Thoroughbred aftercare efforts in Florida."
The initial release stated it had support from the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, now known as the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.
“The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and 1/ST share an understanding of the issues critical to and facing year-round Thoroughbred racing at Gulfstream Park, and are committed to the same outcome,” said Herb Oster, Executive Director, Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, in the 1/ST Racing release. “By supporting the statutory amendments to Chapter 550 to enable Gulfstream Park’s live racing schedule to become independent of the venue’s pari-mutuel license, we are securing a sustainable future for horsemen in Florida that sensibly addresses the challenging economic realities facing the industry.”
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) issued a statement clarifying that the Gulfstream horsemen’s association is no longer an NHBPA affiliate and stated that said, "The NHBPA, along with its affiliates—including the Tampa Bay HBPA—and many other horsemen across Florida, cannot currently support the proposed changes to Chapter 550. At this time, these changes do not appear to offer any favourable provisions for horsemen.
"For years, the NHBPA has consistently opposed decoupling from live racing, as it is detrimental to the health and welfare of the horse racing industry. We remain committed to protecting the interests of horsemen and the future of live racing and for these reasons we oppose the proposed changes to Chapter 550 of Florida statutes."
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) has also expressed opposition to decoupling.
"Our position has never changed on decoupling since it was defeated in 2021," Lonny Powell, CEO of the FTBOA, said in a statement published on BloodHorse. "From what we have been able to read about this, it would be very difficult for our officers and board members to be supportive of something that has so many gaping holes in it. We have not made that official decision yet, but one of the biggest challenges will be for someone to clearly articulate how it is good for racing or breeding. I can see how it can make a lot more money for the property owner, but I haven't heard how it does not wipe out the rest of the industry."
Multiple Thoroughbred racing media reports on recent meetings with horsemen groups concerning support for the legislation reported that The Stronach Group representative Keith Brackpool has indicated racing would continue into 2028 if the decoupling legislation passed but if it didn't then racing could end at any time. According to the President of 1/ST Racing, Aidan Butler, a comment was misconstrued about the possible closure of Gulfstream at the end of 2028 and has “never been said. Hasn't been echoed, internally or externally.”
1/ST Racing also operates racetracks in California and Maryland.
(With files from 1/ST Racing, NHBPA, BloodHorse and Horse Racing Nation)