Harness: Uncertain future for harness racing in Florida

The future of harness racing in the State of Florida once again finds itself in a precarious position as Eldorado Resorts, who operates Pompano Park, is seeking to change its gaming license to Jai Alai when the current contract for the Standardbreds expires next summer.

“They've presented a plan to the zoning commission in Pompano to redevelop the property without harness racing, and to use their gaming requirement to have a casino by installing a jai alai fronton. We have opposed that, and we have just concluded a trial that took six days in Tallahassee. We're waiting for results,” said Joe Pennacchio from the Florida Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association. “If we're successful in that we'll go on to the next thing, which is to get them to stay and keep racing. Their legislative requirement is to race 126 days a year.

“I make no prediction on what will come out of the court case. I thought the trial was favorable to us. We have contested it on the fact that we believe there were several flaws and mistakes in the way they applied for the jai alai license, regardless of whether or not they're even allowed to do it. This case will be decided on the Florida statutes, and we feel that they're in our favor.”

This case is the latest in an ongoing fight for the industry’s survival in Florida, as casino operators have sought to remove harness racing from Pompano for more than a decade.

“Eldorado, not unlike the owner before them, Isle of Capri, whose name they kept down here, have been trying to get rid of us since the day after they got their casino,” remarked Pennacchio. “In 2005 they got their casino, and at least in the time I've been closely involved, they've tried every year one way or another. They've tried to change the law, get a new statute, they've tried to decouple the horses from the casino, and they've never been successful in doing anything like that.

“Eldorado, who took over in May 2017, their approach is a little bit different than the Isle. They're more aggressive in terms of not being a very good partner, doing only what they're required to do by law, and not giving the horsemen any benefit of anything. So, the relationship is probably not as great as it once was with other owners of the raceway.”

While on the surface it would appear that a remedy for harness racing is to simply find a new partner if Eldorado is not willing to work with them anymore, Pennacchio explained that the licensing procedures in Florida make that a virtual impossibility.

“We have a contract that runs through June 30, 2020, so they can't do anything until then, but I would suspect if they get to hang on to their jai alai license, that will be the end of harness racing at Pompano, and probably the end of harness racing in Florida, simply because there is only one license, and they have it. Unless they were willing to give up the license, it's pretty much impossible for anybody else to race here,” he offered. “To get a new license in Florida is a very difficult situation on the pari-mutuel side.”

And while it may not seem like a pressing issue for the industry at-large, given Florida’s isolated location in comparison to the rest of harness racing, Pennacchio says their fight should serve as a cautionary tale.

“I sit on the board of the USTA, and we talk about it all the time. The directors are very, very cognizant of the fact that if one state happens, others can follow,” he explained. “It's the same thing with the states that are very powerful up north right now in terms of the laws they have in effect. All those laws have expiration dates, and all those states have legislators that may come on and say we don't need this, why are we giving these guys money? Everybody understands that, and nobody wants to start those dominoes falling.”

Pennacchio expects the court’s verdict in September, and hopefully brighter days are ahead for harness racing in the Sunshine State.