NEW Call to Action! Tell FL Senate to vote NO to the 'decoupling' bill

ACT NOW: We need racing participants with permanent or seasonal addresses in Florida to send message to Senate!

We must stop the decoupling bill that's in the Florida Senate. This NEW phase of our STOP-DECOUPLING campaign is for racing participants and enthusiasts will Florida addresses, not just a permanent residence but also temporary housing while doing business in the state. Do you race at Gulfstream Park and/or Tampa Bay Downs, train in Florida, have horses training or mares boarded in Florida, attend the horse sales etc? Take 30 seconds to join the National HBPA and Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association in sending the Florida Senate our emphatic message that their decoupling bill could devastate 33,500 jobs and $3.24 BILLION in economic impact.

Senate Bill 408 (the companion to House Bill 105) would allow Gulfstream Park to keep its gaming license without fulfilling its current statutory requirement to conduct live racing (and Tampa Bay Downs could retain its card club without racing). This has far-reaching implications, including outside Florida, if passed.

As long as you use a Florida address, the letter included in this form will automatically go to the correct state Senator. Just fill out your name and contact information in the boxes provided and hit "send message" button.

Tell the Florida Senate it is unacceptable to sacrifice a world-famous labor-intensive industry whose 87,600 thoroughbred horses not only contribute those 33,500 jobs but hundreds of millions of dollars in equine exports and hundreds of thousands of acres of green space -- all to benefit one corporate owner who only has gaming licenses because of the very industry it would kick to the curb.

Help us even more by forwarding this email with clients, staff, family and friends with Florida addresses. Post the link on your social media to send a loud message to Tallahassee that tens of thousands of jobs, a huge agri-business and important component of Florida tourism are being jeopardized by their decoupling bill.

For more information: Read and share the following:

NEW! OBS sales company's open letter on what's at stake: https://obssales.com/blog/2025/02/12/open-letter-to-the-industry-on-florida-decoupling-legislation/

National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback's editorial on the consequences if HB 105 becomes law: https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/open-letter-to-the-industry-the-domino-effects-of-decoupling/

Damon Thayer editorial: As did Kentucky, Florida legislature should bet on live racing: https://nationalhbpa.com/damon-thayer-as-did-kentucky-florida-legislators-should-bet-on-live-horse-racing/

Hill 'N' Dale's John Sikura: "We cannot accept decoupling in Florida and build our own gallows." https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/letter-to-the-editor-gulfstream-santa-anita-and-decoupling/