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Fate of Florida's horse racing industry in Legislative Committees' hands
Tuesday, February 09, 2016 - from United Florida Horsemen
Hallandale Beach, FL --- United Florida Horsemen officials will be on hand in Tallahassee Tuesday (Feb. 9) to represent racehorse owners, trainers and breeders at two legislative committees scheduled to take up gambling-related bills that could devastate Florida's horse racing industry by allowing "decoupling."
The Florida House of Representatives' Regulatory Affairs Committee meets today at 11:30 a.m. (EST), followed by the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee which meets at 1:30 p.m.
To access meeting materials for each, click below:
House Regulatory Affairs Meeting Packet (Updated)
Senate Regulated Industries Meeting Packet
To watch the hearings via live webcast, go to www.TheFloridaChannel.org, or click here for the House video and here for the Senate video.
Links to House Bill Analysis here
Links to Senate Bill Analysis here and here.
Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred officials in attendance today include:
Bill White, President of Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (Thoroughbred owners and trainers)
Steve Fisch, Executive Director of the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association (AQHA) and Florida Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners Association
Joe Pennacchio, President of the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association
Horsemen expect legislators to consider a casino-driven proposal of a decoupled "purse pool" arrangement that would essentially create an artificial sheltered set-aside, rather than the current free market that lets states compete against one another for horse racing business -- meaning the best horses, owners, trainers, jockeys and drivers. The proposal would let casino-owned pari-mutuel permit holders -- not market forces -- dictate how Florida's horse racing investors and small businesses recoup their return, instead of through a dependable schedule of live racing days and market-driven competitive purses.
Seminole compact passes first committee (Thursday, February 11, 2016)
WFSU.org in Tallahassee, Fla., is reporting that a proposed gaming agreement between Florida and the Seminole Indian tribe is moving forward, but legislative leaders don't expect discussions surrounding the bill to end soon.
Anticipated Florida Supreme Court slot machine ruling could ultimately prove meaningless (Saturday, February 13, 2016)
While decoupling hangs in the balance, the general consensus around Florida's Capitol is that gambling expansion in Florida could depend on whether the Florida Supreme Court rules that pari-mutuel permit holders outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties can have slot machines without legislative authorization.
Armchair guide to Florida's Senate decoupling drama (Tuesday, February 16, 2016)
Decoupling will be of paramount concern for horsemen and those who are worried about its imminent devastating effects to Florida's Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred industries when the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee meets Wednesday (Feb. 17) at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
Florida Senate Committee passes decoupling bill (Thursday, February 18, 2016)
Bloodhorse.com is reporting that the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee passed two pieces of legislation on Wednesday (Feb. 17), one authorizing a $3 billion gaming compact with the Seminole tribe and another that would allow most racetracks in the state to decide whether they want to continue live racing.
Florida horsemen urge legislators to comprehend job-killing impact in light of 'decoupling' vote (Thursday, February 18, 2016)
In her column today (Feb. 18), entitled "Scant Hope for Horsemen in Senate Gambling Package," Sunshine State News Publisher Nancy Smith took note of significant and devastating changes in Florida's gambling and horse racing industry landscape that would take place if bills approved by the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee yesterday go the distance.
Will "decoupling" kill racing at Pompano? (Friday, February 19, 2016)
In the Friday (Feb. 19) edition of Harness Racing Update, Bill Finley has written an in-depth story about "decoupling" in the state of Florida. Finley writes "legislation to end the marriage between racing and slots continues to gain momentum and, if it becomes a law, would certainly mean the end of racing at Pompano Park while also, perhaps, planting the seeds for similar efforts in other states."
Florida harness horsemen set up Gofundme account to fight 'decoupling' (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)
The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association has opened up a GoFundMe.com account to raise money for legal fees to oppose the passage of 'decoupling.'
Florida Senate Appropriations committee postpones hearing on 'decoupling' bill (Tuesday, March 01, 2016)
The Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel is reporting that the Florida Senate Appropriations committee heard 29 bills in total on Tuesday (March 1), but not a bill which would allow "decoupling" in the state.
Decoupling measure quietly filed in Florda Senate (Wednesday, March 09, 2016)
Floridapolitics.com is reporting that a bipartisan, last-ditch effort to pass a "decoupling" measure this Legislative Session took the form of an amendment tacked on to a deregulation bill late Tuesday (March 8).
Decoupling reprieve for Florida Horse Racing Industry (Friday, March 11, 2016)
United Florida Horsemen statement on decoupling and the 2016 Legislative Session, which ended today (Friday, March 11).
Meadows horsemen remember Walter "Boots" Dunn