Florida House Passes Bill That Puts Thoroughbred Racing at Risk

Posted on: April 28, 2025, 07:41h. 

Last updated on: April 28, 2025, 09:49h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • House approves ‘decoupling’ bill allowing tracks to drop live racing
  • Legislation backed by Stronach Group, which wants Gulfstream Park casino
  • DeSantis has criticized the bill as harmful to Florida’s racing industry

A bill that would likely spell curtains for thoroughbred racing in Florida, if passed, was approved by the state House Friday by more than a two-thirds majority.

Florida horse racing, Decoupling, Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Ron DeSantis, Thoroughbred racing Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) meets and greets during a visit to the Ocala Breeder’s Sales auction last week, where he took the opportunity to criticize the “harmful” decoupling measure. (Image: OBS)

House bill 1467 would allow the state’s two operational thoroughbred tracks, Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park, to “decouple” from live racing. Under the current rules, the tracks must offer a quota of races to operate other gambling activities such as slots or poker.

The decoupling measure is backed by Gulfstream Park’s owner, the Stronach Group, which ultimately wants a casino license at the venue without the live-racing requirement. The measure has been tagged onto a wider gambling package that would, among other things, give law enforcement greater powers to prosecute illegal gambling and ban gambling regulators from accepting lobbying jobs for a certain period.

House Republicans voted 70-6 in favor of the Stronach position, while all 28 Democrats were opposed.

DeSantis Bombshell

It was an outcome that was widely expected by opponents of decoupling, who believe they have enough support in the Senate to defeat the measure.

Beyond that, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has indicated he would likely veto a bill that allowed decoupling, although the legislature could override him with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

On this issue with the horses, it seems to me they’re proposals that have the effect of harming the industry here in Florida to basically benefit one special interest,” DeSantis said while visiting the Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) auction last week. “That’s not how you do good policy.”

The legislative session in Florida was scheduled to end May 2, but will be extended because of disagreements over the state budget.

The version of the bill in the Senate would need to be approved by two more committees before going before the Senate for a full vote, which seems unlikely due to the timeframe and the legislature’s preoccupation with the budget.

Death of Harness Racing

Decoupling proved to be the final nail in the coffin of harness racing in Florida. The state’s last harness track, Caesars-owned Pompano Park, ceased live racing in 2022, less than a year after the state passed enabling legislation.

Defenders of the thoroughbred racing industry, such as the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association and the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, don’t want history to repeat.

They emphasize that the thoroughbred industry generates an estimated $3.2 billion in economic impact and supports more than 33K jobs.

In a February statement, Tampa Bay Downs affirmed its commitment to offering live racing “for many years to come.” It noted in the statement that it didn’t initiate the legislation, but didn’t say whether it supported it in principle.