When it was announced by The Stronach Group (TSG) earlier this month that it had the blessing of the group representing horsemen in South Florida to push for the decoupling of the track's racing and casino licenses it looked like TSG had scored an important victory. To have the horsemen on its side would no doubt make it easier to convince legislators to make the necessary changes that would allow the track to focus its attentions on building a new, full-service casino on the track grounds and eventually shut down racing.
The agreement was made between 1/ST Racing's Gulfstream Park and the Florida horsemen's group. But rather than solidify the future of racing in South Florida, a can of worms was opened that led many to believe that TSG's main priority was cashing in on the value of the land that Gulfstream sits on and forging a future that did not include horse racing.
Many Florida horsemen questioned why its horsemen's group would support decoupling, considering that by doing so they would be giving TSG free rein to shut down its horse racing operation.
But what if TSG had to deal not with the Florida horsemen's group, but a new one that was very much anti-decoupling and was ready for a fight to save racing at Gulfstream?
That may be exactly what is about to happen. Influential owner and former trainer Carlo Vaccarezza has announced that he is among a group of Florida horseman that has founded the South Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (SFHBPA), which has the backing of the National HBPA. In virtually every state where there is racing, one group is formed to represent horsemen and that one group is recognized by track management, state government and racing commissions. In order for a horsemen's group to be recognized it must show that it has the backing of the majority of the horsemen competing at that track.
Vaccarezza believes he can make that happen and early Thursday morning his group launched a website that includes a link to a petition horsemen can sign saying they want to be represented by the SFHBPA.
National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback said that Vaccarezza had spoke to the National HBPA and had been advised of the requirements it would take to become an affiliate, but that the group had not yet initiated the process.
“The only focus we have in Florida right now is to end decoupling,” said Hamelback. “We are working hand in hand with the FTBOA and the Tampa HBPA to that end.”
Yet Vaccarezza appears to be going forward to organize his group.
“We're really afraid that they will go for decoupling and that would be detrimental to Gulfstream Park and to the state of Florida,” Vaccarezza said. “When you consider how many people this industry employs and all the agricultural benefits that come from racing, decoupling and shutting down Gulfstream would be devastating. To save this sport, we need to form a group. The group we have right now is useless. They are not educated on issues like legislation, medication, and all the problems we have. They are in way, way over their heads. Their executive director [Herb Oster] makes statements that are completely, completely off the mark. They don't know what to do.”
The SFHBPA website was launched Thursday morning with little fanfare and within one hour 140 horsemen had signed the group's petition. While that may not sound like a lot, Vaccarezza said that whenever the rival horsemen's group held elections for its board and its executive positions usually no more than 200 or 300 people total would vote. He said he had no doubt that his group would be able to prove that it had the backing of the majority of Florida horsemen.
Gulfstream Park | Horsephotos
“Once we get a good amount, maybe a couple of thousand, we can go to Tallahassee and tell them we are now the group that should be representing the horsemen,” Vaccarezza said. “There are 6,500 members who are eligible to vote or sign a petition. We will go to Tallahassee and tell them there are 6,500 members and we have 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, whatever it may be, that have signed on with our group. We will go to Tallahassee and we will make that change. If the other group is smart and if they really care about saving racing in Florida they should just walk away.”
Because Florida does not have a racing commission, it's not exactly clear how the SFHBPA can make that happen. But Vaccarezza said he is confident that there is a road that will lead to his group being recognized as the official representative of South Florida horsemen.
He said that he was not ready quite yet to announce who will make up the board of the new horsemen's group and who will take over as the executive director, but promised that he has an impressive group of individuals lined up.
“I can't divulge yet who they going to be but it is a dream team,” he said. “When we divulge who the board members are going to be and who the executive director is going to be you are going to say 'wow'. These are real players and smart people. They are the cream of the crop of racing.”
While the SFHBPA will, if installed as the horsemen's official representative, fight decoupling and work toward keeping racing going in South Florida, it will have its hands full. TSG is on record saying that it has the legal right to close the track any time that it wants and has said that even if decoupling is passed the only promise it is ready to make to horsemen is that the track will continue to race for three more years. The horsemen do not have a lot of leverage.
“We want to be in a position where we can say we are now the official representative of the horsemen and you can rescind everything the former group has said and done,” Vaccarezza said. We are the ones now representing horsemen and we are against decoupling. Belinda Stronach will then have to make the next move.”
Vaccarezza said that if decoupling is passed and Gulfstream shuts down, his group will look to open a new racetrack somewhere else in South Florida.
“So far as where we could run, there is another possibility,” he said. “Let's put it that way. This is not about a hostile takeover. It is about trying to fix the game here.”
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