Casse Training Center in Ocala. (Penelope Miller/OBS photo)
TRI ready to work to secure sustainable path for Florida racing and breeding industry
TRI Release
OCALA, Fla. – The Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI) is gearing up for Florida’s 2026 legislative session, whether that involves a renewed fight to again defeat decoupling, a reimagined circuit in the Sunshine State, pushing for industry-backed legislation that strengthens the existing racing and breeding structure or a combination of the above.
Gulfstream Park’s corporate owner, Canadian-based 1/ST Racing & Gaming, last year arranged to have legislation filed that would allow it to sever — known as decoupling — the statutory requirement that it conduct live horse racing to retain its license to have slot machines.
After 1/ST Racing & Gaming made its intentions public, the TRI was launched last February by founding members David O’Farrell, TRI president and general manager of Ocala Stud; vice president Jon Green of DJ Stable; dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse; and Eisaman Equine’s Dr. Barry Eisaman, with former Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer named senior advisor. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners president Aron Wellman soon thereafter joined the board.
The TRI spearheaded a coalition of horse owners, breeders, trainers, sales companies, equine transportation, veterinary clinics and other industry-connected businesses to present a united front in support of live horse racing.
Legislative and media campaigns were launched to educate lawmakers and the public about the decoupling issue and its devastating consequences if allowed to become law. Letter-writing initiatives and petitions were organized, buses brought horsemen to legislative hearings and racing participants told their stories to humanize what decoupling would jeopardize. Behind the scenes, the TRI coalition’s representatives met with countless legislators, staff members and other government leaders.
The decoupling bill never got a vote in the Florida Senate, and Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated that he would veto the bill had it passed.
“In a short period of time last winter, the TRI was launched and quickly developed broad industry support across America,” O’Farrell said. “We thank Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislators for standing up for more than 33,500 jobs, $3.24 billion economic impact and 87,000 thoroughbreds in Florida. We now have a proven coalition well-prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to protect our signature industry.”
Said Thayer: “If Gulfstream Park wants to pursue decoupling, we are ready to defeat it again. If Gulfstream’s corporate owners want to engage in honest, thoughtful dialogue on a sustainable path forward to protect the future of this irreplaceable Florida industry — whether Gulfstream Park stays as a racetrack and slots operation or if Belinda Stronach exercises her right to sell the property — we stand ready to work collaboratively toward a solution.
“But one thing is clear: We will not allow Gulfstream Park to maintain slot machines if it abandons horse racing. The track did not get alternative gaming by itself. Gulfstream only has slots today because of an incontrovertible deal it made with South Florida horsemen. We also know we must do more than defeat any decoupling effort. We must bring to the legislature a widely supported vision for a better future for Florida’s horse racing and breeding industry that does so much for the state as far as jobs and economic impact. That includes tourism, supporting thousands of small businesses, providing green space in the South Florida and Tampa-St. Pete metro areas and maintaining Ocala’s important role and unique environment that is unmatched anywhere in the world.”
More information at thoroughbredracinginitiative.com.
How to donate: Click here or mail check payable to “Thoroughbred Racing Initiative, LLC” to 900 US-9 #601; Woodbridge, NJ 07095.
