On March 17, 2025, the Florida House Commerce Committee approved House Bill 105 with a 13-8 vote, moving it to the House floor for further consideration. This legislation proposes allowing thoroughbred racetracks, such as Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, to operate casino gaming without the obligation to conduct live horse racing—a process known as “decoupling.”
Proponents argue that decoupling provides business flexibility and reflects market demands. However, opponents, including industry stakeholders and horsemen, warn that this could devastate Florida’s thoroughbred racing industry, which supports over 33,500 jobs and contributes approximately $3.24 billion annually to the state’s economy. They fear that removing the live racing requirement may lead to the closure of racetracks, resulting in significant job losses and economic decline in communities reliant on the racing sector.
The bill includes an amendment requiring a three-year notice before a track can cease live racing, with such notice permissible starting July 1, 2027. Critics argue that this provision offers limited protection for the industry, likening it to “a ride on the Titanic,” suggesting it merely delays the inevitable decline of live racing in Florida.
As the bill progresses to the House floor, the future of Florida’s thoroughbred racing industry hangs in the balance, with stakeholders advocating for the preservation of live racing to maintain the economic and cultural fabric of the state.
Click the link below to read the full article by Ron Flatter at www.horseracingnation.com
https://www.staging2.horseracingnation.com/news/Florida_committee_advances_decoupling_bill_to_the_House_floor_123
