Oster steps down as head of Gulfstream horsemen's group

Herb Oster, the executive director of the horsemen’s group representing owners and trainers at Gulfstream Park since last year, has stepped down from the position, the group said on Wednesday, citing health issues.

Oster’s short tenure included a late-2024 decision by the group’s board to initially support an effort by Gulfstream to lobby for a bill allowing the track to decouple its racing and casino licenses. The endorsement by the board set off a revolt by rank-and-file horsemen that led the group, called the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen, to retract the endorsement and oppose the legislation.

In a release, the FTH – which is not currently affiliated with either of the two national horsemen’s organizations in the U.S. – said that it will establish a search committee to find a replacement for Oster.

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“The organization extends its best wishes to Herb for his future endeavors and health,” the statement said. “His contributions to the Thoroughbred racing community will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.”

After several stints as a board member and special projects administer for the FTH, Oster was named to the executive director following the resignation of Andy Belfiore, who was named the executive director in 20021. Belfiore resigned to take a position at the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.

The dust-up accompanying the group’s decision to endorse Gulfstream’s support of the decoupling legislation led one prominent owner, Carlo Vaccarezza, to initiate an effort to create a new group to replace the FTH. Vaccarezza abruptly rolled up the effort a week later but said that his supporters would be working with the FTH to alter the composition of its board and leadership.

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