A new ride is possible for standardbreds as bill clears Florida House panel

A new ride is possible for standardbreds as bill clears Florida House panel

Article brief provided by Florida Politics
  • Scott Powers, Florida Politics
February 17, 2022 12:15 AM
  • Scott Powers, Florida Politics

Harness racing, heading toward what may be its final turn in Florida, would be offered another ride in a bill approved Wednesday by a House committee.

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Coral Springs Democratic Rep. Dan Daley, whose father raises standardbred race horses, has been trying to find a way to prevent the last run since the Legislature first started contemplating decoupling parimutuel racing from casino action.

His latest proposal (HB 1289), offered as a chance to save the standardbred horse business, made it through the House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee Wednesday.

That bill would allow parimutuel operations that do not now offer harness racing – at thoroughbred tracks and former greyhound dog tracks – to host harness racing as well.