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FTHA Announces Board Election Results

Officials at the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association have announced the results of the Board of Directors election, which were finalized Mar. 14. Elections are held annually, and the term of all Directors is three years. The Board is elected by the Association members via secret ballot.

A Board of no fewer than 11 and no more than 15 Directors supervises the FTHA and each year, five positions are filled on a rotating basis. For 2024, Incumbent Owner/Directors Chester Bishop, Jonathan Green, and Teresa Palmer were re-elected. Incumbent Trainer/Director Ron Spatz was re-elected, and new to the Board is Owner/Director Robert Cotran.

“I was honored to be elected to the Board. I am aware of some of the obstacles that racing is facing in the future,” said new member Robert Cotran. “My goal is to work with our horsemen's group in dealing with these obstacles–all for the betterment of racing–which is everyone's goal.”

Joe Orseno was elected unanimously for his third term as FTHA President. Jon Green was appointed as First Vice President and David Rousso as Second Vice President. The new board will take office effective immediately.

Owner/Directors include: Gerardo Amado, Chester Bishop, Thomas Cannell, Robert Cotran, Jonathan Green, Adam Lazarus, Teresa Palmer, David Rousso and Jeffrey Siskin. Trainer/Directors are: Patrick Biancone, Kathy Davey, David Fawkes, Joe Orseno, Terri Pompay and Ron Spatz.

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Gulfstream Boosts Spring/Summer Purses

Overnight purses for the upcoming Spring/Summer Meet at Gulfstream Park will be increased in all categories from open handicaps to $6,250 claiming races with conditions.

Open handicap purses will rise from $60,000 last season to $74,000; $6,250 claiming races with conditions will jump from $17,000 to $20,000; open allowances will be $10,000 higher than 2023 levels, ranging from $61,000 to $63,000; entry-level allowances for Florida-breds will increase from $43,000 to $48,000; maiden special weight races will increase by $10,000 to $60,000; maiden special weight races for Florida-breds will go up from $40,000 to $48,000; maiden races for $12,500 claimers will get a boost of $6,000 to $25,000; starter allowance purses will increase from $3,000 to $9,000 (from $25,000 to $49,000); and the purse for a $50,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds will jump by $9,000 to $44,000.

“With the increased purses, grass racing, and our workers compensation program, Gulfstream is now the summer place to be,” said Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (FTHA) President Joe Orseno. “We are able to offer better purses and we hope this will encourage trainers and owners to keep horses at Gulfstream Park through the non-championship meet. A big thank you to 1/ST management and the FTHA purse committee for negotiating this competitive purse structure.”

Gulfstream will race four days a week from April to June and three days a week from July to November with turf racing throughout the spring and summer.

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FTHA Distributes Scholarships to 13 Students

The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (FTHA)'s Kent Stirling Scholarship Program will award $44,500 in grants to 13 students for the 2023-24 academic year. The students are Luis Agudelo, Juan Chavez, Helen Collazo, Liseli Coy, Ronald Coy, Wilkenson Eugene, Natalie Fawkes, Jessica Flores, Vanesa Hernandez, Justin Morales, Joli Russo, Ana Ruiz, and Isabel Ruiz. They will be studying for various degrees, including in business, law, medicine, computer science, culinary arts, drama, and forensic science.

“We are delighted to be awarding FTHA Kent Stirling Scholarships to 13 students–the most ever,” said Kathy Davey, chair of the Scholarship Committee. “This is a terrific group of young men and women who we know will make the most of the opportunity and will do us proud in the future.”

Designed for backstretch workers at Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows and their immediate families, the FTHA's scholarships can be used for any subject at any college or university.

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Tax Package Including $27.5M in Support of Florida Tbred Industry Passed

Florida lawmakers passed a tax package May 5 that includes significant support for the state's Thoroughbred industry. With the support of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo; Senator Blaise Ingoglia, the Finance and Tax Chair; and Senator Jason Pizzo; House Speaker Paul Renner; Representative Stan McClain, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee; and Representative Lawrence McClure, chair of the State Affairs Committee; as well as Wilton Simpson, Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture, the package includes $27.5 million annually for two years to bolster purses and racing awards at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. In addition, the two tracks will be provided tax credits to offset the cost of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety (HISA) Program in Florida; the HISA assessment for Florida for 2023 will be $5.9 million.

Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law.

“We thank Governor DeSantis and all of our state legislators who recognize the importance of Thoroughbred racing and breeding to the state of Florida,” Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Joe Orseno said. “The revenue generated through this bill will help ensure the continued stability and growth of an industry that is so important to so many Floridians.”

The FTHA represents more than 6,000 horse owners and trainers who not only work and race at Gulfstream, but also do business throughout the state. FTHA and 1/ST Racing, which owns and operates Gulfstream, worked in tandem with Tampa Bay Downs to craft the language for the legislation and to get it passed. Although the primary focus of the bill is support for the racing industry, the FTBOA was also at the table so that all stakeholders were represented.

According to a study by the American Horse Council, Florida's Thoroughbred industry has a $2.7 billion economic impact and creates more than 23,000 job opportunities in the state. From the racetracks, to the training centers, to the breeding farms to the horse retirement facilities, there are nearly 100,000 Thoroughbreds stabled in virtually every county in Florida.

“Florida supports hundreds of equine-related businesses–not just the tracks and the racing stables and breeding operations, but the ancillary business as well, such as feed and tack stores, veterinary services, transportation, insurance companies, attorneys, the list goes on and on,” Orseno said. “We are thrilled that our Governor and our legislators have given their support to the thousands in the state who depend upon the Thoroughbred industry.”

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