A high‑profile effort to allow Florida racetracks to drop their live‑racing requirements collapsed again on Friday, as the state Senate declined to advance a decoupling bill strongly supported by Gulfstream Park and its parent company, The Stronach Group. The measure had passed the House last month by a 77–34 vote.
What Decoupling Would Have Done
Under current law, Florida’s two thoroughbred tracks—Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs—must run a minimum number of live races to maintain eligibility for other gambling operations such as poker rooms and slot machines.
The proposed legislation would have allowed racinos to operate without hosting live racing, a change Gulfstream Park has long sought as it looks to operate a casino without the financial burden of year‑round racing.
But the bill never received a hearing in a single Senate committee during the 2026 regular session, effectively killing the proposal for the second consecutive year.
Lawmakers will reconvene in April for a special session to finalize the state budget, but decoupling is not expected to be included.
Harness Racing’s Fate Looms Large
Florida has already seen the consequences of decoupling in other pari‑mutuel sectors. After lawmakers approved decoupling for harness racing, quarter horse racing, and jai alai, the state’s final harness track—Pompano Park, owned by Caesars Entertainment—ended live racing in 2022.
Thoroughbred racing was intentionally exempted from that earlier legislation due to the size and economic importance of the industry, particularly in Ocala, a major national breeding hub.
Industry groups have repeatedly warned that removing the live‑racing requirement could jeopardize billions in economic activity and tens of thousands of jobs.
Industry Celebrates the Bill’s Defeat
Thoroughbred advocates welcomed the Senate’s inaction.
“We are proud that, for the second year in a row, decoupling legislation has been defeated by our industry‑wide coalition,”
said Damon Thayer of the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative, noting the sector’s $3.2 billion economic impact and 33,500 jobs statewide.
Political Resistance Remains Strong
Governor Ron DeSantis has previously opposed decoupling, arguing it would harm the industry “for the benefit of one special interest.”
Supporters of the proposal contend that allowing thoroughbred tracks to operate like other pari‑mutuel venues would “level the playing field” in Florida’s gambling market. But with little appetite in the Senate—and strong pushback from the racing industry—decoupling appears unlikely to advance anytime soon.
