Legislation filed in the Florida House of Representatives early this year seeking to decouple Thoroughbred racing as a requirement of gaming licensure in the Sunshine State has progressed with amendments.
After the original legislation was approved without objection in the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee last month, the House Commerce Committee passed the legislation on Monday, March 17 with amendments. The bill will be put to the full House of Representatives for a vote and would require Senate approval to become law.
Sponsored by Rep. Adam Anderson, House Bill 105 seeks to change licensing legislation by removing a requirement that a Thoroughbred permitholder must conduct live racing to retain a pari-mutuel wagering operating license and other gambling licenses for slot machines and cardrooms, and would be exempt from Thoroughbred racing purses and awards agreement requirements. If passed, the bill will take effect July 1, 2025.
Amendments to House Bill 105 touted by Anderson that would benefit horse racing include allowing the transfer of Thoroughbred racing permits and the requirement that racetracks provide three-year notice no sooner than July 1, 2027 if they decide to cease racing. The amendments also add the responsibility of distributing purses and breeders awards to the state's gaming commission.
The legislation was supported in the Commerce Committee with backing from a Republican majority despite being met with strong public opposition, according to multiple reports from Thoroughbred racing media.
"Let me be clear: The latest changes to HB 105 are not a compromise — they are designed to scuttle Florida's vital Thoroughbred industry," said Lonny Powell, CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association. "No matter how our opponents try to spin it, this bill decouples live racing from voter-approved gaming requirements. This means fewer races, fewer jobs and fewer opportunities for the hardworking Floridians devoted to this industry, including the passionate horsemen and women from the farms and barns who testified today [Monday].
“If this bill passes, it will ripple across the entire state economy, gutting a major industry and sending Florida jobs and horses to other states and our dollars to Toronto," continued Powell in reference to Canadian-based The Stronach Group, whose 1/ST Racing operates Gulfstream Park. "This industry has helped power Florida's economy for generations, and we must not allow bad special-interest policy to dismantle it.”
Passage of similar decoupling legislation in 2021 ultimately led to the demise of Standardbred and Quarter Horse racing in Florida.
(With files from BloodHorse & Thoroughbred Daily News)