Behind the scenes of Florida Thoroughbred racing is a vibrant, often unseen world known as the “backstretch.” It’s created by hundreds of independent businesses—both large and small. Through the labor-intensive, long-term and high-dollar financial investment required to get a young Thoroughbred ready for competition, horse owners and trainers create thousands of jobs that drive over $1 billion a year through Florida’s economy—from breeding and buying, to training and campaigning.