Peter Schorsch
A renewed push to “decouple” thoroughbred racing is starting its course through the Legislature, once again sparking debate about the future of the state’s storied horse racing industry.
HB 105, filed by Rep. Adam Anderson, would remove the requirement that thoroughbred racing facilities host live races while allowing them to continue operating existing slot machines and cardrooms. Supporters of the bill argue that the change would give the Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs racetracks more flexibility to invest in upgrades that could ultimately benefit the industry.
However, industry stakeholders in Florida and throughout the country insist this decoupling could weaken — and potentially cripple — Florida’s long-standing reputation as a leader in horse racing and a key player in the racing industry worldwide.
According to an Economic Impact Study published by the American Horse Council, Florida’s thoroughbred industry generates $3.24 billion annually and supports more than 33,500 jobs.
Some lawmakers have pointed to a drop in foal production as a sign of the declining state of the industry. What this argument doesn’t address is the question of whether quality outweighs quantity. Florida trails only Kentucky in the number of race victories, which would suggest that the quality remains high regardless of the number of foals.
Proponents of the bill also assert that the industry is “subsidized” by the state, while thoroughbred groups have emphasized how legislative investments have led to a multibillion-dollar agricultural sector. Also of note is that the Legislature spared thoroughbreds from decoupling when it enacted the 2021 Gaming Compact, and passage of the decoupling bill would run contrary to that recent policy decision.
The 60-day Legislative Session begins Tuesday and runs until May 2.
