Representing Nearly 300,000 Members Worldwide, Texas-Based American Quarter Horse Association Tells Florida “No Decoupling”

Nearly 6,500 AQHA Members Throughout Florida

The powerful American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) left no doubt about its collective strength in a recent letter to and state legislative leadership by firmly stating its opposition to decoupling Florida pari-mutuels from casinos.

Decoupling, a dangerous provision pending in the Seminole Gaming Compact, would dismantle Florida’s successful horse racing and breeding industry by eliminating live racing days and expanding gambling statewide.

Representing nearly 300,000 members worldwide, the Texas-based AQHA wrote in support of the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association (FQHRA) and Florida Quarter Horse Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, its official Florida American Quarter Horse racing affiliates.

The FQHRA, which is the only organization that can sanction American Quarter Horse racing in Florida, is among top leadership in NoDecoupling.com, an advocacy effort to educate Florida elected officials on the dire economic consequences of decoupling–a misguided legislative proposal that would effectively create stand-alone casinos at the expense of Florida’s lucrative horse racing industry.

“Nearly 6,500 AQHA members, 7,204 owners and over 54,000 registered American Quarter Horses reside in Florida,” AQHA Chief Racing Officer Trey Buck explained in the letter. “Nationwide, there were 62,778 horse starts in 7,960 American Quarter Horse races held in 2014. These races generated over $290 million in pari-mutuel wagering and paid out nearly $126 million to the owners of the horses that participated in the races.”

Buck pointed to Florida’s horse breeding industry as the fulcrum of economic development, generating green space and agricultural business that, in turn, blossoms with live racing days to offer racehorse owners the opportunity for return on investment.

Only Hialeah Park currently runs FQHRA-approved American Quarter Horse racing in Florida. In October, the State of Florida filed a complaint against Hamilton Downs in North Florida, in which it stated that the events taking place there are “not real horse racing.”

Florida law requires pari-mutuel permitholders to hold two years of live racing as a requisite for the award of a slot machine license. The purpose of infusing purses with slot and cardroom revenue is to enable Florida’s horse racing and breeding industry to prosper through the competitive advantage of luring better stables, owners and trainers with the opportunity for higher returns on their investment.

Hialeah Park was able to secure licensing for its successful card room and slot machines only because of the accredited FQHRA American Quarter Horse racing taking place there.

Read the AQHA Letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott HERE.
Read the AQHA Letter to Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner HERE.
Read the AQHA Letter to Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli HERE.

About NoDecoupling.com

Florida horsemen are gravely concerned that “decoupling” will trigger a statewide gambling avalanche, extract money out of Florida’s economy and siphon it back to Big Casinos, disabling our heretofore successful horse racing industry from competing for business with other, more horse racing-friendly states. “Decoupling” tells potential investors that “Florida is closed for business.”

NoDecoupling.com is an advocacy outreach by United Florida Horsemen, which comprises nearly 350,000 horsemen from the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, theFlorida Quarter Horse Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Florida Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, American Quarter Horse Association,U.S.Trotting, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association andOcala Breeders’ Sales.