BY EMMA DELAMO (20-WCJB News)
OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – A bill starting to make its way through the statehouse is worrying thoroughbred horse owners, trainers, and breeders in Marion County.
House Bill 105 would decouple licenses tied to Florida horse race tracks. It has not been approved and is currently in the Commerce Committee.
Ashley Godwin, a breeder and owner of Rivermont Farm in Ocala, says she’d have to move her business elsewhere.
“There’s a ton of jobs in Marion County that are connected to this industry, wonderful people that I know their life depends on it, and if we all send everything to Kentucky, our money goes to Kentucky. We want to keep the money in Florida,” she said.
According to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA), more than 75,000 horses call Marion County home, contributing $4.3 billion in total economic impact.
“Not only is decoupling thoroughbreds a bad business deal for Floridians, it’s a really bad deal for Marion County, and it’s a really bad deal for state agriculture as one of the top agricultural states,” said Lonny Powell, CEO of FTBOA.
Powell says decoupling would bring in more money for property owners.
“All these years, that real estate value was built on the shoulders of owners and trainers, jockeys and breeders and the employees and fans, and now they decide it’s time to make more money,” he said.
Richard Kent, owner of Kaizen Sales, is also against the proposal.
“House Bill 105 wants to separate the casino from the actual race track and would, in my estimation, be the end of the race track,” said Kent. “They can’t change the rules in the middle of the game.”
OBS officials shared an open letter online why they oppose decoupling.
TV20 reached out to 1/ST, part of The Stronach Group, who own Gulfstream Park in South Florida, for a statement.
“The challenges facing Thoroughbred racing in Florida cannot be ignored. While stakeholders may have different visions for the industry’s future, we share a common goal: fostering constructive, forward-thinking dialogue to address today’s challenges. Our commitment to modernization remains steadfast, and we believe in working together on a sensible and sustainable long-term solution.” – 1/ST
Decoupling: What You Need to Know: Read Now
Return to the February 13 issue of Wire to Wire
