BY STEVE KOCH
TUCSON, AZ – FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell joined At the Races with Steve Byk to discuss the partnership with Philip Levine and John Morgan announced the previous day at the University of Arizona Global Symposium on Racing.
Powell credited Levine as “the glue” who brought the principals together during last year’s legislative session. Of Morgan, he said: “I’ve found John to be one of the most amazing people to be in the presence of. It’s a relationship deal.”
He acknowledged working the South Florida option – alternatives for racing after 1/ST Racing’s anticipated exit – for nearly two years before concluding that central Florida offered the best path forward.
The announcement comes as both Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs requested decoupling at the start of the 2025 legislative session; the initiative failed, but is expected to return in 2026. “If we wait till everything craters, it’s over,” Powell said.
Asked about coordination with the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative or other industry stakeholders, Powell emphasized the FTBOA’s independent statutory role. “We’re the only industry stakeholders spelled out in law,” he said. “We’re not a member of anything. We’re FTBOA.”
When Byk pressed on the involvement of prominent Ocala figures, Powell pushed back.
“Look at who my board is made up of. Look at who my officers are made up of,” Powell said. “The horsemen and the tracks have never been behind it. It’s been our permit.
“This is a proprietary thing that’s good for the whole industry,” he continued. “Why would anybody be against the only backup right now? The rising tide lifts all boats.”
“If we were trying to do this by committee with a bunch of organizations, we’d still be doing podcasts about saying how good we were to be able to be doing this,” Powell said. “We had to do business. People need to root for solutions rather than be bummed that it wasn’t their [solution].”
Powell highlighted Ocala’s existing infrastructure as a key advantage. “We’ve got training centers, barns, people talk horse. It reminds me of Lexington or Saratoga,” he said. “We sit in the middle of some of the greatest infrastructure in the world.”
“Nothing’s a guarantee. There’s a lot of hard work here,” Powell said. “But we’ve got a license. We’ve got a plan.”
He promised substantive but measured public communication as the partnership moves forward.
“We’re going to do a lot less talking than a lot of folks, because you don’t get anywhere by talking,” Powell said. “Whenever I talk to you, it’ll be quality. I’m not into quantity.”
