decoupling

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) is the latest organization to come out in opposition to the recent decoupling proposal in the state of Florida that could result in the cessation of racing at Gulfstream Park. At one point in time, Florida mandated that its racetrack conduct live racing operations in order to run a casino. Since those original regulations were eased, many tracks have suspended racing while continuing to run a casino. As the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association did on Jan. 9, officials at the KTA also issued a statement against...

The bombshell announcement issued last week by The Stronach Group (TSG) that Gulfstream Park could close within three years, if not sooner, sent shockwaves through the industry. To close Gulfstream would affect a lot more than Florida racing. It would have serious ramifications for virtually every faction in the sport. The Stronach Group is looking to decouple its casino and racing licenses and has threatened to close the track in three years if the horsemen's group does not back legislation allowing decoupling. Their hope is that they can use the...

The Stronach Group (TSG) has told Florida industry stakeholders they can guarantee racing at Gulfstream Park only through 2028 if a proposed bill to decouple Thoroughbred horseracing from casino licenses passes the state legislature. In a closed-door meeting with the Florida horsemen and women Wednesday morning—a recording of which was obtained by TDN—Keith Brackpool, a former TSG executive now reportedly working in an advisory capacity for the company, also warned that "if there's no decoupling, then there's no guarantee of when we will continue to race," according to the recording....

Eoin Harty's world is chock full right now. For starters, his home is situated in the midst of one of the worst wildfires in California history, but somehow it has survived the nightmarish ordeal. Then, there is his role as the president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, a position he has held since 2019. What that means is he is at the forefront of trying to turn around the declining fortunes of racing in the state, which he admits is no easy task. The good news is that he has...

In response to news that emerged Jan. 7 regarding changes to decoupling regulations in the state of Florida, officials at the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (THA), Inc. issued a statement on Thursday opposing any such changes. The state of Florida at one point required its racetracks to conduct live racing operations in order to run a casino, but those rules have been eased, many tracks have suspended racing while continuing to operate their casinos. In its release, the THA clarifies that the horsemen's organization at Gulfstream withdrew its membership from the...

Bill Finley's column on the closing of Pompano Park used it as a textbook example of decoupling. And he warned of the possibility of such decoupling not being exclusive to the world of harness racing or other pari-mutuel wagering establishments; that Thoroughbred racing venues are just as vulnerable. Well there was evidence of such, for all to see, in Chicago in 2021. Last June, I became aware of the potentially permanent closing of Arlington Park at the end of its 2021 season. As a 40-year fan of horse racing and...