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Florida horsemen say 2009 racing meet will end 3 months early

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January 22, 2009

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The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) has issued a press release stating that the Isle Casino at Pompano has asked the state of Florida to approve a reduction in the number of Standardbred racing days for the 2008-2009 race meet from 160 to 140.

In addition, the FSBOA release noted that the Isle Casino at Pompano Park confirmed that they have applied for a summer Quarter Horse license. There had been previous reports that Pompano Park was applying for a summer Quarter Horse license.

Also, the FSBOA release said that the Standardbred meet will end on May 2, 2009, instead of the original schedule of Aug. 2, as advertised on the stall application. The FSBOA also said Steve Wolf, Director of Racing at Pompano, told the horsemen in a memo that the stable area and the grooms quarters must be vacated by May 10, 2009. This includes all horses (400�800) and all personal property. Anything left behind will be discarded by management.

"This change will have a devastating effect on Standardbred racing in Florida. It will not only put the breeding and Florida Sire Stakes programs in grave danger, it could spell the end of harness racing in Florida," said the FSBOA press release.

The FSBOA release said that its leadership has tried to arrange a three-way conference call with track management and the racing commission to discuss this change.

The FSOA is encouraging "anyone interested in saving Standardbred racing and breeding in Florida to contact their Florida State Representatives immediately." They can do so by clicking on this link, especially Dave Roberts, Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Names of representatives and email addresses can be obtained by calling Rose at the FSBOA office at (954) 972-5400 or via e-mail at rosie.fsboa@att.net.

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