The Thoroughbred Racing Initiative—a multistate industry collaboration created to advocate for live horse racing in Florida and elsewhere in the United States—officially launched Feb. 18.
The TRI's immediate mission is to bring the Thoroughbred industry together to provide funding and other resources to defeat anti-racing and breeding legislation in the Florida House of Representatives (HB 105) and Senate (SB 408). Those bills would allow Gulfstream Park to keep its gaming licenses without the current mandate that it also conduct live racing. HB 105 was amended to let Tampa Bay Downs maintain its card club without live racing, although the 99-year-old Oldsmar, Fla., track issued a statement stressing its commitment to horse racing and saying it did not initiate the bill amendment.
"Thoroughbred racing in Florida is under attack," said TRI president David O'Farrell, general manager of his family's Ocala Stud. "The bills filed in the Florida legislature threaten the future of live racing, breeding, and our 33,500 jobs and $3.24 billion economic impact. This isn't just a Florida issue; the ripple effects will impact racing and breeding nationwide. For decades, Florida legislators have protected the Thoroughbred industry, but this bill prioritizes corporate interests over horsemen, breeders, and our industry's huge agri-business and tourism contributions. We must take a stand now to ensure Thoroughbred racing has a future."
The TRI is the brainchild of O'Farrell, TRI vice president and prominent owner/breeder Jon Green of DJ Stable, and trainer Mark Casse, a member of both the North American and Canadian racing halls of fame. Dr. Barry Eisaman, a veterinarian who, with wife Shari, operates the full-service farm Eisaman Equine near Williston, Fla., also is a founding member.
The TRI launch was announced today on Green's weekly Rail Talk podcast. The organization's website is thoroughbredracinginitiative.com, with the motto "Protecting Racing. Preserving Tradition. Securing the Future." Thoroughbred industry participants and enthusiasts are encouraged to sign up for updates and to donate at thoroughbredracinginitiative.com/contact/.
Aron Wellman, founder and president of the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners syndicate that races throughout the U.S., also has joined the TRI board. Damon Thayer of Thayer Communications & Consulting is the senior adviser. Thayer spent 22 years in the Kentucky State Senate, the last 12 as the Senate Majority Floor Leader, during which he championed the horse industry. That included pushing through legislation to protect the historical horse racing pari-mutuel gaming product that has led to unprecedented success for Kentucky's year-round racing circuit.
The TRI also is collaborating with Ocala Breeders' Sales Company; the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association; the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, representing about 30,000 Thoroughbred owners and trainers throughout North America; its Tampa Bay HBPA affiliate; and the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen, representing owners and trainers at Gulfstream. The FTBOA, which has battled Florida decoupling measures over the years, began aggressively lobbying against HB 105/SB 408 since the bills were filed. That includes working closely with the National HBPA, which views decoupling as a national issue.
"When done right, every dollar that a state invests in an industry such as Thoroughbred racing and breeding's agri-business is repaid many times over," Thayer said. "The Florida legislature has understood that and been a terrific steward of its horse industry. TRI's core mission is to keep it that way. We cannot afford to lose Florida's storied Thoroughbred industry.
"We're not asking lawmakers for subsidies. We're asking for legislatures to understand that investing in the Thoroughbred industry is no different than investing to keep and grow other labor-intensive industries that return so much in jobs and economic impact benefitting the entire state. This is similar to the situation we faced in Kentucky less than five years ago, and I am happy to assist my Florida friends in this effort."
O'Farrell said TRI will ensure legislators and the public hear the Florida horse industry's story. Gulfstream Park's Florida Derby (G1) is well known as the leading producer of Kentucky Derby (G1) winners (25) and for attracting top horses from around the world for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), but the contributions and influences go far beyond the racetrack. Those include:
- Breeding: Florida-breds include legendary champions such as Dr. Fager and Affirmed. One of North America's most influential sires, the great Mr. Prospector, started out in Florida.
- Boarding: Florida is home to 87,500 Thoroughbreds of all ages.
- Sales: Kentucky Derby winners such as Nyquist and I'll Have Another were sold at the state's famed 2-year-old auctions. Florida is a leading exporter of Thoroughbreds, including OBS selling 4,147 horses for a total of $180 million in 2024.
- Training: The state's many training centers give not just Florida-born horses but countless Kentucky-breds their earliest training. That included 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner and champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone. California-based Bob Baffert, the winningest trainer in the history of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup, sends his yearlings to Ocala for their early education, including 2024 champion juvenile male Citizen Bull and champion older male National Treasure .
"While Florida is our immediate focus, TRI could get involved in other states where live racing is under siege," O'Farrell said. "Thoroughbred racing and breeding throughout North America is an ecosystem. While Florida is a linchpin, we need the other jurisdictions of all sizes for the industry to prosper. We are going to do our part to fight for the industry and sport we all love, and we invite every stakeholder to join us."
Agreed FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell: "FTBOA is pleased and excited to see our friends with the TRI come on board to join our fight to oppose decoupling while continuing live Thoroughbred racing in Florida. They are colleagues who have a deep passion for the industry as well as having skin in the game.
"They now join a team that includes the official horsemen's groups for both Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, plus OBS and the National HBPA along with ourselves. We welcome their support and participation."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
