2019 Florida Legislative Session Report
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ftboa.com • Thursday • May 16, 2019 FEC/FTBOA PUBLICATION FOR ADVERTISING 2019 Florida INFORMATION or to subscribe, please call Legislative Antoinette at 352-732-8858 or Session Report email: [email protected] BY MATT BRYAN maneuvering to report to you. In This Issue: FTBOA LOBBYIST _________________ For the first time in my 36 years of lob- bying, there was not one substantive pari- 2019 GP Florida-bred Stakes mutuel or gaming bill filed. Most of the May 2019 FTBOA, OBS Join FHBPA in Fight to time between the first of the year and the In baseball some games are played in end of session on May 4, was used by the Thwart Calder’s Jai-Alai Permit Swap daylight, some are played at night, and Florida Senate to attempt to negotiate a Tribe Says No Dice to Paying State some are rained out. Some would say that new Compact with the Seminole Tribe of the 2019 Florida legislative session was a Florida. As we have discussed in the past, Firenze Fire Gallops to Victory in rain out when it comes to gaming and pari- all major legislative gaming decisions have Runhappy mutuel legislation. At least that’s how it recently begun with the Tribe because the looked to the innocent bystander. At the revenue generated by the Compact for the Royal Squeeze Rallies to Win Big end of the legislative process the House state is substantial. Senator Wilton Drama and Senate took no formal action, but we Simpson and Senate President Bill certainly have some behind the scenes Florida Stallion Progeny List See LEGISLATIVE on page 3 Florida Breeders’ List Preakness Notes: Wire to Wire Business Place War of Will Arrives at Pimlico Featured Advertisers BY PIMLICO PRESS OFFICE _______ later Tuesday. “They were all happy, ears up, eyes Ocala Stud BALTIMORE, MD – Gary Barber’s War of bright – the weather was great for travel, Will was the first contender for Saturday’s even if we think it’s cold,” said Carroll of Bridlewood Farm $1.65 million Preakness Stakes (Grade 1) the three, who arrived at approximately to arrive at Pimlico Race Course, stepping 2:30 a.m. Stonehedge Farm onto the grounds early Tuesday morning War of Will was relaxed but eager as he Berrettini Feed following a van ride that originated at made his way to the track as the first of 12 Churchill Downs Monday afternoon. Preakness contenders to arrive at Pimlico. Florida Department of Agriculture Mark Casse-trained War of Will, an “He loves what he does,” said Carroll of eye-catching bay son of War Front who War of Will. “The only thing he didn’t like FTBOA was placed seventh in the Kentucky Derby [today] was that I didn’t gallop him. But he Liberty Law (G1), jogged once around the Pimlico wasn’t [acting up]. He’s totally professional, track and appeared to travel well over the and all class; I never want to get off him,” Seminole Feed surface, reported assistant trainer and exer- said Carroll. “His mind is in the right place. cise rider Kim Carroll, who was oversee- He’ll be excited to go out tomorrow again. Ocala Breeders’ Feed & Supply ing the trio until Casse’s scheduled arrival He’s so good at what he does. He’s ready Journeyman Stud See PREAKNESS on page 7 Back to Top Page 3 Legislative COVER Fortunately, the Governor refused to agree to it, but only after he Continued from called a meeting of all the pari-mutuel interests, including the Galvano negotiated with the Tribe for many weeks while keeping FTBOA, to hear the perspective of the existing in-state businesses the details of the negotiations closely held. We were not a party to who would be impacted by the new compact. Lonny Powell and I those negotiations, but we did meet regularly with Senator attended the meeting, as did representatives from Gulfstream Simpson on issues such as decoupling, purse pools, and live rac- Park, Tampa Bay Downs, the FHBPA, and OBS. Mr. Powell pro- ing. Both Senator Simpson and President Galvano were very gen- vided the Governor with a detailed review of the economic impact erous with the time they afforded us. of the thoroughbred industry, the negative impact of decoupling, There is no doubt that the Senate was in a difficult negotiating and the need for better purses and awards in this state. Much of position. In order to pay more to the state and to execute a new the meeting was spent on this topic. The Governor asked good Compact, the Tribe clearly wanted to eliminate designated player questions and was very engaged in the discussion, as were his staff card games from the pari-mutuel facilities. Over the years, those members in attendance. He told us that he was not interested in games have become more important to permitholders, especially signing the Compact negotiated between the Senate and the Tribe those without slots. Some of them make as much as 50% of their and that he would be taking his time to learn more about the com- card gaming revenue from those games. If those games are taken plex issues involved with it. He also made it clear that he saw from the pari-mutuel permitholders, there is not much left to give negotiating the Compact as his responsibility and that the legisla- them to get them to support a bill authorizing a new Compact. For ture’s role was to approve or reject the Compact that he ultimately example, most of the permitholders we met with this session said negotiates with the Tribe. Obviously, we were thrilled with the they would prefer the designated player games to sports betting, Governor’s actions and we intend to spend more time with he and assuming sports betting ran through the Tribe. his staff on this subject in the very near future. The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Jose Oliva, took Shortly before going to print on this report we learned that the a “wait and see” approach, which was entirely consistent with Seminole Tribe of Florida notified the state that it will stop mak- their actions in past sessions. We had several discussions with ing payments to the state of $350 million annually, effective Speaker Oliva, Commerce Chair Mike LaRosa, and Gaming immediately. The Tribe informed the Governor that they will fol- Control Chair David Santiago during the session. They were sup- low the Agreement with the state and halt payments until the issue portive of our agenda to oppose decoupling and increase thor- of banked card games/designated player games is resolved to their oughbred purses and awards. satisfaction. The legislature did not spend the Compact money At the end of the day the Compact negotiated between the in the state budget approved a few weeks ago so there is not nec- Senate and the Tribe was only good for the Tribe and stanchly essarily a need for a special session, however at this time it is dif- opposed by existing pari-mutuel permitholders. It certainly did ficult to determine the short and long term impacts the Tribe’s not sound like it was good for us either. While we still have not decision will create. seen the proposed Compact, it included some level of decoupling As we look to the coming months, legislative committee meet- and no additional purse or awards funding for thoroughbred rac- ings begin in the fall, and the session starts in January of 2020. ing. It also allowed sports betting at the pari-mutuel facilities but We have work to do in the coming months to ensure that you con- run through the Tribe. The proposed Compact also may not have tinue to have a healthy market for your horses. We can assure you allowed for a portion of the revenue generated at the pari-mutuel that given this reprieve, we will double down on our efforts to facilities to be set aside for purses and breeder incentives. improve the racing, breeding and training climate in Florida! 2019 Summer Meet - Gulfstream Park Date Stake Incentive Purse Sex Age Distance 5/18/19 Musical Romance (Florida-bred) $100,000 F&M 3 YO & Up 7 fur. 8/3/19 FSS Dr. Fager Florida Sire Stakes Leg #1 $100,000 2 YO 6 fur. Dirt 8/3/19 FSS Desert Vixen Florida Sire Stakes Leg #1 $100,000 F 2 YO 6 fur. Dirt 8/5/19 Eight Miles East (Florida-bred) $75,000 3 YO & Up 1 mile (T) 8/5/19 Panama City (Florida-bred) $75,000 F&M 3 YO & Up 1 mile (T) 8/5/19 Benny the Bull (Florida-bred) $100,000 3 YO & Up 7 fur. 8/31/19 FSS Affirmed Florida Sire Stakes Leg #2 $200,000 2 YO 7 fur. Dirt 8/31/19 FSS Susan's Girl Florida Sire Stakes Leg #2 $200,000 F 2 YO 7 fur. Dirt 9/8/19 Sheer Drama (Florida-bred) $100,000 F&M 3 YO & Up 7 fur. 9/28/19 FSS In Reality Florida Sire Stakes Final $400,000 2 YO 11/16 miles Dirt 9/28/19 FSS My Dear Girl Florida Sire Stakes Final $400,000 F 2 YO 11/16 miles Dirt 9/28/19 FSS Wildcat Heir Florida Sire Stakes $150,000 3 & up 1 mile Dirt In Addition to above: 1. Up to $100,000 will be offered as "Win-Only" supplements in select maiden special weight races to properly reg- istered Florida-breds who are also FSS eligible.