Chester Bishop

Edited Press Release Leadership representing Florida's five principal Thoroughbred industry organizations gathered in Ocala recently for a collaborative summit with the goal of uniting the Thoroughbred industry to help preserve and promote our Florida racing and breeding legacy by providing a clear and concise message to our elected officials at the local, state and national level to support our interests. The organizations represented included leadership from the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA), Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA), Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS), Tampa Bay Downs Horsemen's...

Legislative efforts in Florida to decouple the live racing requirement for Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to operate their respective casino and card rooms-efforts that industry stakeholders largely see as a death knell to the future of horse racing in South Florida--took a few twists and turns in the state legislature Tuesday. A standalone bill that had already passed out of one legislative committee was temporarily postponed in the state Senate. But similar language was inserted as an amendment into a separate and much larger gambling bill (HB 1467)...