Statement from the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Regarding Decoupling in Florida

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) fully supports the Florida owners, breeders, and horsemen’s stand against the decoupling of live horseracing from the ability of a racetrack to conduct alternative gaming in Florida.

Thoroughbred racing and breeding support a far-reaching agricultural ecosystem and preserve greenspace. Beyond the Thoroughbred farms and training centers are tack and feed suppliers and the farms that grow the feed, equine services and products, professional services, hospitality, construction and farm equipment, and transportation businesses all supported by Thoroughbred breeding and racing. This agricultural ecosystem needs racetracks and live racing to exist and vice versa. Decoupling incentivizes racetrack operators to end live racing and break the relationship between farm and track thereby causing great harm to the agricultural economy.

A healthy Florida Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry is not only important to those owners, breeders, and horsemen in Florida, but nationwide. Any harm to the Florida Thoroughbred industry brought about by decoupling will be acutely felt throughout the U.S. Thoroughbred industry and therefore TOBA is opposed to decoupling.

The Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI) was founded in February, 2025, as an industry collaboration providing funding and resources to oppose Florida legislation for decoupling, which would allow tracks to keep their gaming licenses without conducting live horse — the original statutory requirement in place to protect one of the state’s signature industries. The TRI was founded by Ocala Stud general manager David O’Farrell (TRI president), prominent owner-breeder Jon Green of DJ Stable (TRI vice president); trainer Mark Casse, a member of both the North American and Canadian racing halls of fame; and Dr. Barry Eisaman, a veterinarian who with wife Shari operates the full-service farm Eisaman Equine in Williston. Leading industry organizations were brought in, including the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. (OBS), the Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA), the National HBPA, Tampa Bay HBPA and the Florida Horsemen’s Association. Other like-minded racing and breeding associations are expected and encouraged to join the consortium.