March 2026

March brought an important victory for Florida’s Thoroughbred industry: decoupling once again stalled in Tallahassee. While that is encouraging news, it is not the finish line. With lawmakers expected to return for budget negotiations, FTBOA remains vigilant in protecting our industry and advocating for the funding our breeders, owners and horsemen need to remain competitive and sustainable.

This outcome is a direct result of a unified effort across our industry. I want to sincerely thank Ocala Breeder Sales, Tampa Bay HPBA, South Florida HPBA and TRI for working collaboratively in the fight against decoupling. When breeders, owners, trainers and organizations come together with a shared purpose, our collective voice is stronger—and it makes a difference.

As we continue working toward long-term solutions for Florida’s Thoroughbred industry, we are encouraged to see additional efforts focused on supporting Florida-bred horses.

The South Florida HBPA has announced a $2 million initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for Florida-breds through enhanced purses and the creation of new stakes races. Beginning April 25 at Gulfstream Park, six Florida-bred stakes races—each carrying a purse of $100,000—will be offered, providing immediate opportunities for owners and trainers to compete at a higher level.

This initiative follows the difficult but necessary transition away from the traditional Florida Sire Stakes series after South Florida industry declined to negotiate. In response, the FTBOA took a proactive step forward with the launch of our $1 million Florida Sire Racing Incentive Program for 2026, designed to directly reward both owners and breeders of Florida Sire Stakes-eligible horses.

While these programs take different approaches, they share a common goal: creating meaningful opportunities and strengthening the future of Florida-breds. We appreciate the continued focus across our industry on supporting our horses, our horsemen and our breeders. As we move forward, it is essential that we work collaboratively to build sustainable, long-term programs that elevate Florida’s position as a premier breeding and racing state.

At the same time, we remain focused on what comes next. Securing meaningful funding in the state budget will be critical to ensuring the long-term viability of our industry. We will continue working closely with legislators and industry partners to advocate for the resources needed to support breeding, racing and the many small businesses that depend on a healthy Thoroughbred industry across Florida.

Please also mark your calendars for one of our favorite evenings of the year—the FTBOA Horse of the Year Gala on April 20. This special event is an opportunity to celebrate the very best of Florida racing and breeding—our horses, breeders and owners—while recognizing the dedication and passion that drive our industry forward every day.

And finally, keep those foal pictures coming! We love seeing the next generation of Florida-breds in Wire to Wire and sharing in the excitement that each new arrival brings. These moments are a powerful reminder of why we do this work and why Florida’s future is always worth fighting for.

Together, we’ve made progress—but there is more work ahead. And together, we will continue moving forward.

Valerie Dailey