A new bill introduced today in Florida seeks to amend existing regulations for thoroughbred permitholders, eliminating the requirement that these facilities conduct live racing to maintain their licenses. The bill, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, proposes changes to two key sections of Florida law that govern pari-mutuel wagering.

Under current law, thoroughbred permitholders must apply each year to the Florida Gaming Commission to conduct thoroughbred racing meetings. The application must specify the number and dates of performances that the permitholder intends to conduct during the racing season. Additionally, each permitholder is expected to run at least one race per day featuring Florida-bred horses, unless agreed otherwise with horsemen’s associations.

The new bill would remove the mandate for permitholders to hold live racing as a condition of maintaining their gaming license. This change would allow facilities that hold permits for slot machine gaming to continue operating without conducting live racing, providing greater flexibility for permitholders.

The bill also proposes changes to slot machine licensure requirements, specifically removing certain conditions tied to live racing. Permitholders who are also slot machine licensees would no longer need to fulfill live racing obligations to retain their gaming privileges. However, they would still be required to adhere to other regulatory requirements set forth by the state.

If passed, the bill would allow thoroughbred permitholders to focus on gaming operations without being bound to host live races. This change marks a shift in the state’s approach to pari-mutuel wagering, providing more options for permitholders and adjusting licensing requirements to reflect modern industry practices.

This shift comes amid ongoing debate over the ethics of horse racing, which has long been criticized for the potential harm it poses to the animals involved.

Concerns over horse welfare, including the risk of injury and death from racing, as well as the ethical implications of breeding horses specifically for the sport, continue to fuel discussions.

The move to allow permitholders to operate without conducting live races could be seen as a step toward addressing these concerns by reducing the demand for horse racing altogether.

While the bill may offer economic benefits and operational flexibility, it could also reflect a growing acknowledgment of the ethical questions surrounding the sport.