Florida House Commerce Committee Approves HB 881 to Decouple Live Thoroughbred Racing

HB 881, a Florida House bill to free thoroughbred tracks from the statutory requirement to run live racing in order to keep pari‑mutuel gaming privileges, cleared the House Commerce Committee in a reported 15-9 vote and now heads toward a full House floor consideration. The bill would allow certain permitholders to retain casinos and cardrooms without staging live races after a mandated notice period, a change with clear business and cultural stakes for Florida racing.

The legislation already passed the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee on a reported 10-5 vote, and the Commerce Committee action completes the two-committee hurdle required to schedule a House floor vote. Rep. Adam Anderson is the bill sponsor in the House, and a Senate companion, SB 1564, is filed by Sen. Nick DiCeglie but has not yet been heard in its referred committees. Reporters noted one voice vote was inaudible during the committee roll call and the official posted tally had not been available at the time of reporting.

The bill’s current language builds in a runway for specific tracks. Under the provision now being debated, Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs would need to file notice of intent to suspend live racing by July 1, 2027; once that notice is filed, live racing would be required to continue for at least three years. That timing is intended to give affected stakeholders a transition period even as it clears the legal path for standalone gaming operations to survive without live cards.

Industry reaction split predictably. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association, led by CEO Lonny Powell, testified against the measure and warned it offers no meaningful time or support to replace live racing. FTBOA framed the bill as destabilizing, saying, “FTBOA and our industry partners are working on live racing solutions to replace Gulfstream’s inevitable exit—but we need time and support. This bill offers neither.” FTBOA also stressed that there has been no public or racetrack testimony in favor of decoupling to date. On the pro-decoupling side, Thoroughbred Racing Initiative adviser Damon Thayer signaled the fight is far from over in Tallahassee: he said Gulfstream Park operator 1/ST Racing had “the skids greased” in the House of Representatives and added, “Our strength remains the Senate, and we are working with our supporters there.”

Politically, the vote largely followed party lines with two Republicans breaking ranks to vote no and two Republicans excused from the committee roll call; the committee result was reported as 15-9. If HB 881 wins a House floor majority, the next battlefield will be the Senate, where a similar bill failed to clear its path last year after executive-level opposition.

For fans and industry participants, the implications go beyond regulatory text. Decoupling could shift where and how wagering handle is generated, alter purse structures and racing calendars, and affect breeders, trainers, jockeys, and local economies that rely on live cards. Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs are specifically named as potential operators that could stop running live races while maintaining gaming under the bill’s timetable.

What comes next is a full House vote and, if passed, a Senate showdown that will determine whether Florida aligns thoroughbred pari‑mutuel law with earlier decoupling of other forms of racing. For now, breeding barns, backstretch workers, and bettors are watching the calendar and counting the days on the runway.