Photo:

Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire

As the Florida legislature considers a proposal to allow Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to decouple their racing and gaming licenses, Tampa Bay Downs issued the following statement.

There is considerable concern emanating from legislation introduced in the Florida legislature which would decouple Thoroughbred racing from the current requirement to maintain live racing in order to operate slots or poker.

This legislation was not initiated by Tampa Bay Downs, which intends to continue live Thoroughbred racing.

The track will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year in 2026 and is proud of its longevity in providing Thoroughbred racing a winter meet on the west coast of Florida in Hillsborough County and adjacent to the City of Oldsmar, whose founder, Ransom Eli Olds, also was a founder of the racetrack in 1926.

The racetrack employs hundreds and impacts the employment of thousands more. Its management team and employees are dedicated to providing safe and competitive Thoroughbred racing and are proud of their achievements in providing races on dirt and turf racing surfaces which have attracted owners, trainers and horses from Florida and beyond.

Considerable effort has been made in conjunction with the Florida Thoroughbred industry including the breeders, owners and trainers to work with the Florida legislature to support an industry which has a $3.24-billion impact in the state.

Very meaningful support has been provided by the Florida legislature in recent years and Tampa Bay Downs will continue its efforts to achieve enhancement of purses to remain competitive on a national scale and to support live racing of Thoroughbreds in Florida for many years to come.