Allowing Gulfstream Park to keep its gaming licenses without the requirement to host live horse racing would bring severe economic harm to Florida without offering any real benefit.
The horse racing industry in Florida supports over 33,000 jobs and helps preserve hundreds of thousands of acres of green space, particularly in Ocala and Marion County. House Bill 105 and Senate Bill 408, which propose eliminating the mandate that tracks must conduct live racing to operate casinos, pose a direct threat to this industry and should be firmly opposed.
Every horse owner, breeder, and trainer in Florida is running a small business. The passage of decoupling legislation would put thousands of these businesses in jeopardy—all to serve the interests of a single foreign corporation.
Take my own business as an example. My wife, Tina, and I operate one of the largest racing stables in North America. Last year alone, we raced 363 horses in 1,284 races, with 401 of those taking place at Gulfstream Park or Tampa Bay Downs.
At Casse Racing, we manage more than 200 horses across Ocala, Gulfstream Park, and Palm Meadows training center. Our operation directly and indirectly supports approximately 250 people, including employees, vendors, and their families, all of whom depend on the viability of Florida’s racing industry.
Beyond our stable, the impact on South Florida is staggering. Gulfstream Park alone is home to around 3,500–4,000 racehorses. Caring for these horses requires an entire workforce—800 grooms, 650–700 hot walkers, 250 exercise riders, plus veterinarians, blacksmiths, assistant trainers, and barn foremen. The number of jobs tied to horse racing is significant.
If Gulfstream Park is allowed to operate its casino without live racing, it will trigger the collapse of the South Florida racing circuit. The demand for Florida-bred horses will plummet, forcing many horse farms in Ocala to shut down. Thousands of workers will be displaced, and our horses will be relocated to other racing circuits in Kentucky, New York, Louisiana, or Arkansas.
The reality is that Gulfstream Park’s slot machines—introduced in 2006—generate substantial revenue, contributing $39 million in net revenue after taxes in the last fiscal year. But this revenue only exists because of an agreement with horsemen and a constitutional amendment that required local approvals for slots at racetracks. The portion of slot revenue that supports race purses is not a subsidy; it is an essential part of an industry that contributes $3.24 billion annually to Florida’s economy.
Florida already has 34 different types of casinos and over 4,600 hotels. But there is only one Ocala.
Marion County is home to 75,000 horses—34,000 of them Thoroughbreds—making it the largest equine population of any U.S. county. This is why Ocala is officially recognized as the Horse Capital of the World.
According to the American Horse Council’s 2023 economic impact study, Marion County’s horse industry supports 28,500 jobs, with Thoroughbreds accounting for more than half. If this legislation passes, it will weaken the entire equine economy, affecting veterinarians, tack shops, feed stores, and farmers growing hay, grain, and straw.
I have been part of the Ocala community for nearly six decades. As my career winds down, I am not fighting for myself—I am fighting for the future of the industry.
My son Norman is a third-generation horse trainer. My youngest son, Colby, is 22 and dreams of following the same path. His girlfriend, Taylor Davis, comes from a horse racing family—her mother worked for me long before she was born. These young professionals represent the future of our industry, and they deserve the chance to continue this proud tradition.
It is unthinkable that lawmakers would pass a bill benefiting a single corporate entity at the expense of an entire region, an entire industry, and the livelihoods of thousands of Florida taxpayers and small business owners. This industry generates $3.24 billion annually—its destruction would be an irreversible loss.
If this bill becomes law, Florida gains almost nothing while losing an industry that has thrived for generations. We must protect the future of horse racing in Florida.
Click the link below to read the full article by Mark Casse for www.sun-sentinel.com
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/03/16/allowing-a-casino-at-gulfstream-park-without-live-horse-racing-would-devastate-families-like-mine-opinion
