PRESS RELEASE

OCALA, Fla. – The FTBOA welcomes the Florida HBPA’s Wednesday evening announcement of a $2 million package of Florida-bred stakes and meaningful Florida maiden purse increases at Gulfstream Park. Florida-bred owners and breeders deserve every opportunity to compete and earn.

The Florida Legislature newly directed $4 million to Florida-bred purses at Gulfstream Park in 2026, bringing the total annual Florida-bred allocation at Gulfstream to $6 million. The $2 million described Wednesday represents approximately one-third of that total.

Gulfstream Park, party to the three-year racing agreement that makes these races possible, was not quoted in the evening announcement. Dates were announced for the new stakes series but particular race conditions remain unmentioned.

FTBOA’s monthly Florida-bred purse-tracking series, updated Wednesday morning, hours before the FHBPA announcement carried exclusively in the Thoroughbred Daily News, documented that Florida-breds were $846,000 behind their expected earnings pace at Gulfstream Park. FTBOA will continue tracking how and when the full balance finds its way to Florida-bred bottom lines. The next update publishes in early April.

“We applaud every race added and every dollar put in front of Florida-bred competitors,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “We were disappointed when the South Florida industry elected to walk away from the Florida Sire Stakes. Last night’s announcement suggests a meaningful change of course, and Florida-bred racing deserves exactly this kind of emphasis. We look forward to seeing the full program reflected in the earnings of Florida-bred Thoroughbreds.”

The comparable state investment at Tampa Bay Downs — $1.5 million directed to Florida-bred purses — has been on full display since November. Florida-bred entries and earnings at Tampa Bay Downs are tracking ahead of expectations.

Return to the March 19 issue of Wire to Wire