With an economic impact of more than $3.2 billion to the state, the importance of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County, and Florida as a whole, cannot be overstated. Any action that threatens the viability of our racing and breeding operations is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Inc. (OBS) is proud to be the leading seller of two-year-olds in training in the world and while the sales attract a broad group of domestic and international buyers, it is critical that OBS along with the Florida horsemen and breeders have a stable environment in our own backyard. OBS is a center of commerce for the Thoroughbred marketplace in Florida and often relied upon to generate income to help sustain training and breeding operations. Therefore, we have been steadfast in our opposition to decoupling.
It is important to understand that the bill for decoupling is in the initial stages and has a long way to get to the finish line. Simply put, decoupling will allow a Thoroughbred racetrack to operate a stand-alone slot and card casino by removing the statutory requirement to conduct racing and fund purses and breeder awards for the horsemen that helped them qualify for the gaming license and supply the horses for the races. The push for decoupling by 1/ST Racing is disturbing, selfish and unfounded. 1/ST Racing should be applauded for their significant investment in racing, but it is counterintuitive that a company with “Racing” in their name would want to do anything that would harm racing in Florida and throughout the country. Make no mistake, if this bill passes, the impact WILL harm racing and will not be limited to Florida, the ripple effects will be nationwide, and the message will be deafening.
It is our hope and belief that decoupling of Thoroughbred racing will not become a reality in Florida. The problem is that the existence of the bill itself has created obvious concern, uncertainties throughout the industry and has likely impacted breeding decisions. This is not an isolated Florida issue; it is a national issue and opposition to the bill includes leaders from throughout the country that actually compete with Florida in attracting horsemen and breeders to race and breed in their state. This bill creates a disincentive to race.
The legislators have consistently and historically recognized the importance of Thoroughbred racing and breeding in Florida by creating a statutory framework that protects and promotes the Thoroughbred industry. The current effort to pass decoupling is ill founded and will favor one company while inflicting wide reaching damage to a signature industry of Florida and more importantly the livelihood of the thousands of people that rely upon the stability of the Thoroughbred industry.
In 2021, the legislators once again recognized the profound impact of the Thoroughbred industry to the state and specifically excluded Thoroughbred racing from being decoupled and retained other protective measures to maintain racing days. In fact, when slot machines were initially approved in 2005, statutory language for Thoroughbred permitholders were unique compared to the other pari-mutuel permitholders. Since day one with the support of horsemen, breeders, and the Thoroughbred tracks (including Gulfstream Park and Calder), there has been a statutory requirement for an agreement for purses and breeders’ awards to be in place before a slot license could be issued to a Thoroughbred permitholder. Since the inception of slots, Jai Alai, Greyhound, and Standardbred permitholders have never been required to share slots revenue or have an agreement with the underlying participants. The requirements for Quarter Horse permitholders were ineffective due to loopholes in the statute.
Owners, breeders, trainers, and all horsemen have options when considering where to race and breed. Hence, it is vital that Florida continues to support Thoroughbred racing and breeding and not force businesses and jobs to flee Florida to more welcoming states. Having a vibrant horse industry in Florida that is competitive with other states protects an established, signature industry that not only provides a tremendous economic impact but promotes and preserves greenspace.
While it is certainly the prerogative of the owners of Gulfstream Park to walk away from racing and develop or sell their property, they do not and should not have the right to walk away with parting gifts of standalone slots and cards from the backs of the horsemen and breeders that are their partners and were critical in obtaining these privileges.
Decoupling will send the wrong message. Now is the time to do the right thing; step up, withdraw the bill as well as the notion of decoupling before it creates any more damage.