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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Florida House of Representatives on Feb. 11 passed the controversial decoupling bill backed by Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs that would allow either track to cease live racing while retaining their respective casino and card-room privileges. The 77-34 decoupling vote was largely split along party lines, with Republicans mostly in favor of it and Democrats mostly against it. The roll call came at the very end of a four-hour legislative session on Wednesday, and the eight minutes of discussion preceding its passage consisted of only one representative speaking out against decoupling and only the bill's sponsor advocating in favor of it. By that point in Wednesday's session, House members seemed to have little appetite to enter into extended debate on the initiative, despite the fact that decoupling has the capability to dismantle Florida's entire Thoroughbred ecosystem. In fact, when two representatives who had asked for time to speak on the House floor said they were instead going to “yield back” their time and not weigh in at all on decoupling, the politicians in the chamber cheered in anticipation that the session would soon be ending. “There's a lot I can say today, in closing, about how this bill will keep Florida in the winner's circle,” said the bill's Republican sponsor, Rep. Adam Anderson, who, in what must seem like a stunning paradox to Thoroughbred stakeholders, keeps portraying himself as an advocate for the racing industry despite crafting the very legislation that could kill off the state's breeding and racing. But, Anderson added, “I know we all want to get home tonight, so I'm not going to do that.” In closing, Anderson said, “Let's quit horsing around. Help me gallop this bill across the finish line, and turn that [vote tally] board green.” Rep. Yvonne Hinson, a Democrat whose district includes part of Marion County, the heart of Florida's Thoroughbred breeding and horse-raising territory, spoke up in opposition to House Bill 881, just like she did last year when a similar decoupling bill sponsored by Anderson passed the House but not the Senate. Hinson had also vociferously advocated against the current bill's passage at a Jan. 14 committee hearing. “At first glance, this may seem like a technical regulatory change, just a tweak in how we classify permits. But in reality, it is a fundamental shift in policy that threatens a legacy of generations in industry, thousands of jobs, and an entire community's economy,” Hinson said. “This is not hypothetical. When similar decoupling measures have passed, other forms of pari-mutuel gaming, such as greyhound and harness racing, the result was the end of live racing in those sectors,” Hinson said. “Thoroughbred racing has been the one remaining exception, and for god reason. Proponents argue that safeguards in the bill, like delaying any notice of ending live racing until July 1, 2027, with a three-year operations requirement, will protect the sport. But let's be clear: Those are paper guarantees that depend entirely on future business decisions, and not on this legislature's firm commitment to the industry,” Hinson said. Anderson countered Hinson's narrative by suggesting that despite both Gulfstream and Tampa strongly backing the decoupling bill, neither track would actually utilize the legislation they are lobbying for to exit the business of live racing. “This upcoming weekend, Tampa Bay Downs is celebrating 100 years of Thoroughbred racing in the state of Florida, and they just signed a three-year contract with their horsemen,” Anderson said. “Gulfstream Park also just signed a new three-year agreement with their horsemen. These are not the kinds of actions that we are going to see from businesses that don't intend to continue to operate. This legislation simply eliminates unnecessary government regulations on the last two pari-mutuel permit-holders in the entire state.” As per custom in the Florida House (and unlike at the two previous House committee hearings that reported the decoupling bill favorably this year), only representatives were allowed to debate the bill, meaning no public testimony on Wednesday was taken before the full House voted on the measure. Earlier this week, Tom Cannell, the president of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, told TDN's Bill Finley that even though passage in the House seemed to be a foregone conclusion, getting a companion bill passed in the Senate and signed into law might be difficult for pro-decoupling forces. “Our hope is that when this bill gets to the Senate, there will be no real appetite for the senators to deal with this,” Cannell said Feb. 8. “It has got to go through the two branches of the legislature and then it has to go to the governor [Ron DeSantis], who, last year, appeared at OBS and made it very clear he didn't have an appetite to wipe out an industry. I'd call it a long shot from the standpoint of the bill going through and completing its run through the Senate. Maybe that's too bold of a comment, but that's my gut feeling. My gut tells me it's not going to get through the Senate.” The nearly identical companion bill in the Florida Senate has been referred to three committees, but has yet to be scheduled for any committee debate in that chamber. The post Florida House Advances Decoupling, but Senate Has Yet to Schedule Hearings on Companion Bill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Returning to a track he has had much success over, the Phil D'Amato trainee enters the race off a game fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, after being compromised at the break.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Saudi Derby (G3) is a new addition to the Churchill Downs competitions seeking to lure foreigners to the Kentucky Derby (G1) but also has attracted some American 3-year-olds looking for an optional route to Louisville, Ky.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
After finishing as the leading earner of any North American-trained horse in 2025 when earnings in the Middle East are included, Hit Show will chart a familiar path when he opens his 6-year-old season Feb. 11.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
By Michael Guerin Talented driver Josh Dickie is hoping the next phase of his career can start with a win at Alexandra Park tonight. Dickie partners last-start winner Father Barry for his father John in the opening race tonight, the $15,000 Classique Landscapers Metro heat and punters can expect to see him doing far more driving for the family and outside stables in the future. Dickie and fiancée Sammy Kilgour have gone out on their own account after two years working for premiership trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer, that stint coming after the couple had been based in Victoria. “We just thought it was time to try to build our own business,” says Dickie. “We have a handful of horses and are training those alongside Dad on his property. “We have nice numbers there now but are looking to grow so will be at the yearling sales next week and I’ll be looking to get back into more freelance driving.” Dickie has driven 14 Group 1 winners and has already started to build his freelance contacts again now he is not tied to a stable. “And we want to train more as well,” he explains. “Dad was almost retired a couple of years ago but the three of us are enjoying being back working together so he says he will be sticking around for a few more years now too. “So the next phase is exciting.” Father Barry sits alongside Higher Power as one of the two most talented trotters in tonight’s opener but both can gallop so their clash could be decided by manners. Higher Power’s trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan hold the key to a few of tonight’s races, with Sooner The Bettor favourite for the main handicap pace even off his 30m backmark. Sooner The Bettor was a last-start third in the Auckland Cup and while his best performances come when able to lead or race handy, he only faces four rivals tonight so his handicap may not be enough to stop him winning. Later in the night a rare mobile sprint for the better grade trotters could see American Muscle potentially the value option as she has produced some top class sprinting performances in the last year. View the full article
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