Letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Harness racing directly employs men and women to run the day to day operations of the horse and stable management as well as men and women those that manage the breeding farms and training centers located in each respective state or province.

These racetracks and breeding farms are literally the birthplace of the future Champions. And they exist in your state of Florida. Harness racing also indirectly employs men and women in the supporting roles as veterinarians, blacksmiths, judges, track workers, track officials. And it further indirectly employs supporting businesses such as vehicle mechanics, truck/trailer dealerships, housing authorities, food and beverage providers, agricultural management’s, feed distributors, and the list goes on and on.

Putting an end to an industry such as harness racing will have a detrimental effect on the spider web of industries, businesses, and essential people that work together to make this business a success.

Looking into the past, horse racing was the only legal gambling venue at one time. Casinos approached the horse tracks and asked to partner together to grow the sport of racing and the casino industry with added gambling opportunities (and presumed better cash flow).

Over time, casinos multiplied and gambling options expanded. Each time the casinos sought approval from the horse racing (and later dog racing, jai alai, etc) entities to allow expansion of their casinos with a reciprocal kick back of funding to the tracks for their purse accounts.

All along the way, promises were made to expand the “partnerships”, but all too often the promises were broken, the casino operations became more and more expanded and the racetracks were pushed further and further to the back burner. As the casinos grew stronger, they used tactics similar to a bully to push their wishes on the tracks.

They became larger and larger and had more of a financial presence when it matters (lobbyists, etc) and started pushing their way around rather than setting down for honorable negotiations with their partnering tracks. Isle Casino intentionally left Pompano Park harness racing behind and there was nothing we could do about it but watch it play out and be thankful for the measley scraps they were still throwing our way.

In school, a bully is punished for pushing their weight around, yet in this example the Isle Casino has been awarded for doing so. The Isle has bullied, lied, manipulated and schemed against racing at Pompano Park and the FSBOA for the past 25+ years, and in return they are being rewarded with an opportunity to decouple and put an end to harness racing in FL forever. Thats an insane thought to comprehend.

As it stands now, public perception appears that harness racing is just a leach on the backside of a very lucrative casino, sucking funding that they don’t deserve. In reality, casinos are only in existence in their current form because of horse racing, and they owe a debt of gratitude to us for enabling their existence. It started as a mutual relationship and has transformed into a host/parasite situation. But in reality, the host is horse racing and the parasite is the casino. Public perception has it the other way around, and that’s a shame.

Bringing in closer to modern day, The Isle Casino and Racetrack in Pompano Beach is the only operating harness track in the state of FL. The Isle is currently operated by Caesars Entertainment Group and has recently been involved in negotiations to separate the harness racing license from the Isle Casino requirements to operate. This agreement would allow the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) to acquire the racing license and allow Caesars Entertainment to pursue a different line of pari-mutuel wagering to comply with their casino license regulations.

The agreement was detailing a 5-year phase out period where financial support from Caesars to FSBOA would enable the relocation of the harness track along with required equipment, staff and logistical help along the way. This agreement has come to a screeching halt with the unveiling of SB-8A.

Based on how the bill is written, there will be no more requirement for pari-mutuel wagering at the Isle Casino, thus there is no longer a reason to negotiate with the FSBOA. What it also does is allow the only license for harness racing to remain with Caesars Entertainment Group, thus prohibiting the FSBOA from pursuing a different location and venue for holding a harness meet. In fact SB-8A states that relocation of the license is strictly prohibited, even if Caeasrs wanted to turn over the license to the FSBOA. Not only does this bill decouple harness racing from its partnering casino, it puts the final nail in the coffin for ever holding a harness meet in the state ever again. Legally, there will be no place for us to go and that just doesn’t seem fair.

Lastly, let’s look to the future. The passing of SB-8A will decouple harness racing from the Isle of Capri Casino and Racing. Caesars will continue on with the casino with business as usual. Pompano Park will close the doors forever on harness racing.

The thousands of people that come to the state each year for the racing industry will no longer come, reducing the financial boost to the local economy (food, housing, fuel, shopping, tourism, etc). Local breeding farms will close their doors and move away (loss of property taxes and local financial gains) and the agricultural industry will take a hit as land, hay, grain, supplements and supplies will no longer be necessary. The spider web impact on the local and regional economy will be of major impact and will be felt for years to come, possibly not to ever rebound. And then there is the further reaching aspect … decoupling in FL may spread throughout the country. Setting precident in FL just may cause a ripple effect through the continental US and perhaps even into Canada and beyond. Heck, why not … if FL can do it, then why can’t we. What’s the big deal, right? The people can find new jobs, the horses don’t really matter, it’s not that big if a deal … right? WRONG.

Simply put, the whole idea of decoupling harness racing in this manner is WRONG. Single handedly putting an end to a viable agricultural industry with long term ties to culture, tradition and sport in Florida should not be an option … that’s just wrong.

During discussions regarding this bill, The House was open to an amendment saving harness racing, yet the Senate Majority Leader refused to even open up a discussion in the Senate … thats just wrong. Letting the bully Casino (Caesars Entertainment) win without offering an option of negotiations with the founding company (FSBOA) … that’s just wrong. I’m asking you to look at the past injustices that have been handed out to the horsemen and women participating in harness racing in FL and then look ahead to the future vision of your state without harness racing and all the benefits that come with the sport for your state. Make the decision to veto SB-8A and allow us to continue to relish in the sport that we love. The sport does not need “to be saved”, it simply needs to be allowed to exist. We deserve that much

Thank you for your time,

P.S. If you would ever like to come and experience first hand what “we do” in our sport, I would be happy to facilitate a farm tour, a race barn experience, an opportunity to sit behind one of our horses being exercised, a ride in the starting car during a race, and anything else you would like to experience. It’s the least I could do to let you see why we love this sport so much.