A South Florida horsemen's group has officially reversed course on its support of a state bill that would allow Thoroughbred racetracks to offer casino gaming and card rooms without being required to run live racing.
The group that calls itself Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen, which is the designated horsemen's group in South Florida, announced in a Feb. 3 statement that its board voted unanimously against the passage of HB 105, which would "decouple" the Thoroughbred tracks' pari-mutuel licenses from their gaming licenses. The Florida group is not associated with the national Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
"The future of Thoroughbred racing in South Florida is too important and too uncertain if HB 105 is passed. We cannot take that risk without a definitive plan going forward," the FTH statement read.
"The organization wants to actively engage and work with (track owner) 1/ST Racing and Gulfstream regarding the future of racing in South Florida. We have requested a series of meetings with 1/ST and Gulfstream so that the interested parties can collectively come up with a sustainable solution that would be in the best interest of racing.
"Unless and until that solution is developed and agreed upon, the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen will be against decoupling or any legislation that threatens continued Thoroughbred racing in South Florida."
1/ST Racing in a statement said it is committed to a "modernization of racing" in Florida and working toward a "sustainable long-term solution."
"The challenges facing Thoroughbred racing in Florida cannot be ignored," the statement read. "While stakeholders may have different visions for the industry's future, we share a common goal: fostering constructive, forward-thinking dialogue to address today's challenges. Our commitment to the modernization of racing remains steadfast, and we believe in working together towards a sensible and sustainable long-term solution."
The FHA's new position comes nearly a month after a joint statement Jan. 6 from the horsemen's group and Gulfstream Park that announced support for HB 105, which was filed Jan. 6. The original verbal agreement between The Stronach Group's entity 1/ST Racing, which operates Gulfstream, and the horsemen was touted to ensure "purse revenues are unaffected and provide for additional contributions by Gulfstream Park to horsemen's workers' compensation premiums and meaningful increases to Thoroughbred aftercare efforts in Florida."
Reaction to the joint announcement was swift, with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association and the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association voicing strong opposition to decoupling.
South Florida horsemen subsequently met with 1/ST Racing representative Keith Brackpool, who indicated that even with decoupling, live racing at Gulfstream Park's current site could not be guaranteed past 2028 because the land is too valuable.
"When representatives of Gulfstream Park approached the FHA last summer, they proposed how to best save racing in South Florida as part of an overall plan," the horsemen's group said in a statement following the meeting with Brackpool. "Closing Gulfstream in 2025 or at the end of 2028 was never mentioned or suggested, nor is that consistent with saving racing in South Florida."
HB105 has been assigned to the Florida House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee and is on its agenda for a Feb. 5 meeting that begins at 12:30 p.m.
