Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA) announced an order issued May 7 by a Florida Administrative Court allowing both Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) and Ocala Breeders' Sales (OBS) to join the battle against Calder Casino's pari-mutuel “permit swap.” FTBOA and OBS will join the ongoing effort by FHBPA to keep Thoroughbred racing at Calder instead of replacing it with jai alai.
Calder, which is owned by Churchill Downs, Inc., has leased its horse racing operations to The Stronach Group since 2014. Races have since been conducted there as Gulfstream Park West.
“Millions of dollars that would otherwise be available through the payments of awards from Thoroughbred races would be lost if Calder is permitted to switch its underlying pari-mutuel activity from racing Thoroughbreds to conducting jai alai games,” Judge Darren A. Schwartz wrote in the order.
Florida law in Miami-Dade County requires an underlying operational pari-mutuel permit in order to grant a slot machine license. FHBPA, which has stated concerns that Calder intends to keep the casino without horse racing, brought the lawsuit against Calder in 2018.
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