HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Thoroughbred horse racing at Gulfstream Park could be a thing of the past, renowned horse trainer Dale Romans said Thursday.

Romans was fresh from a meeting to discuss Florida House Bill 105, legislation that would “decouple” casino licenses tied to thoroughbred horse tracks.

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“Racing could end here,” Romans said.

As it stands now, to have the casino at Gulfstream, located at 901 S. Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach, it has to have to have live racing. The park first opened in 1939 and reopened in 1944.

But the bill would end that requirement and Romans was told if it passes they would only get three more years until racing ends.

“The horsemen and the racetrack are partners. We get part of the money for purses,” he said. “They want to go to Tallahassee and separate the two and keep the money and said they would subsidize us and guarantee three years. But three years is nothing.”

There are only two thoroughbred race tracks in Florida: Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. But Tampa Bay Downs doesn’t have a casino, so the only entity affected by the bill would be Gulfstream.

Race tracks could be seen as property primed for development. Live racing has dwindled in South Florida since other legislative measures were passed to decouple other types of racing in prior years.

Some published accounts estimate the property to be worth upwards of $1 billion.

“I don’t think it’s right or fair and it would be a shame for this historic place to go away,” Romans said.

Local 10 repeatedly reached out to Gulfstream for comment on Thursday but was told a statement was not yet available.

Local 10 has also called the office of Florida State Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Tarpon Springs, who sponsored HB 105.