The House, with 114 members present, spent more time earlier in the evening voting to replace the mockingbird with the flamingo and the scrub jay as the official state birds.
The abolition of the requirement to race live in order to play other casino games, known as decoupling, has now been approved by the House of Representatives for the second year in a row. Last year, the Florida Senate introduced the legislation after Governor Ron DeSantis indicated he would veto the legislation.
Rep. Adam Anderson, a Republican for District 57, which includes part of Hillsborough County, where Tampa Bay Downs is located and lead sponsor of House Bill 881, emphasized that the legislation simply eliminates unnecessary government regulation for the last two permit holders of all pari-mutuel permit holders statewide.
In 2021, Florida approved the decoupling of pari-mutuel and gambling licenses for other pari-mutuel businesses — track racing, Quarter Horse racing and jai alai — but made an exception for Thoroughbred racing. The state had already banned greyhound racing in 2018 but allowed licensees to keep their gaming permits.
Pompano Park, the state’s only Standardbred harness track, would ultimately close in April 2022, which is the fate that threatens the thoroughbred industry if this bill becomes law, according to Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, a Democrat who represents parts of Marion and Alachua counties in District 21. Ocala is the county seat of Marion County.
“At first glance, this may seem like a technical change in the regulations, just an adjustment in the way we classify permits,” Hinson said. “But in reality, it is a fundamental policy change that threatens a generational legacy in the industry. Thousands of jobs and the economy of an entire community are at risk.”
Hinson was the only other representative to speak during the debate on HB 881.
“Without the obligation to race, the economic base of this industry could quickly erode. This is not hypothetical,” she said. “Proponents of the bill argue that safeguards in the bill, such as delaying any announcement of the end of live racing until July 1, 2027, with a three-year operating requirement, will protect the sport. Let’s be clear, these are paper guarantees that are entirely dependent on future business decisions. What happens if market pressure pushes tracks to focus only on more profitable gambling activities? What happens if breeders and trainers cannot continue their operations because the racing calendar is shrinking than any lobbyist.”
Anderson downplayed Hinson’s concerns about “unintended consequences” of the legislation.
“This coming weekend, Tampa Bay Downs is celebrating 100 years of Thoroughbred racing and they just signed a new three-year contract with their riders. Gulfstream Park also signed a new three-year agreement with their riders,” he said. “These are not the types of actions we see from companies that have no intention of continuing their operations.”
Earlier in the day, Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association President Tom Cannell sent a statement urging state representatives to reject the bill.
“Florida’s thoroughbred industry is alive and well in the state – we see it at the recent Ocala Breeder’s Sales events and Pegasus World Cup Day – but any attempt to decouple puts it at risk,” he said. “It jeopardizes the billions in positive economic impact that the thoroughbred industry generates; it threatens the thousands of jobs that depend on the industry; and it puts so many livelihoods and rural communities at risk.”
The companion bill in the Florida Senate, SB 1564, has been introduced in three committees, but none have yet considered the legislation.
“We’re not enjoying this, but we expected this outcome well before the session, just like last year,” said Lonny Powell, CEO and executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. “It all fits the film, so now we go to part two. There is a strong understanding that the other two legs of government do not share as much passion and enthusiasm for this bill. Even less passion and enthusiasm than last year.”
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