Florida: 'Pari-Mutuel Barrel Racing' hearing to reconvene Aug. 22
Litigation over the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering’s 2011 unilateral license award for Greta Racing LLC to conduct “pari-mutuel barrel racing” as a new form of gambling without enabling legislation, regulatory hearings or public input will continue this Wednesday, August 22 through August 23, 2012 at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings in Tallahassee.
This third (3rd) continuation marks the ninth (9th) month and what will amount to nine (9) days of testimony in Case No: 11-005796RU, in which Gretna Racing LLC co-owners Marc Dunbar and David Romanik are actively litigating as “intervenors” on behalf of Florida's Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering—the same regulating entity that granted their North Florida-based pari-mutuel facility the license in question.
Along with Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering officials, among those who have testified in the trial have been former Thoroughbred racetrack Gulfstream Park CEO Doug Donn and the American Quarter Horse Racing Association’s Executive Director of Racing Trey Buck. The American Quarter Horse Association has refused to sanction “pari-mutuel barrel racing” as legitimate Quarter Horse racing.
Even though Florida law requires pari-mutuels to hold live horse racing in order to operate 365-day cardrooms and slot machines, Gretna Racing LLC has continued to operate cardrooms and pursue its slot machine license despite the controversy and ensuing litigation over the legitimacy of its racing license award.
During the June 2012 proceedings, former Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering Director Milton Champion testified in Florida Administrative Court that the licensing of barrel racing as a pari-mutuel event was “a joke” and “an embarrassment” to the State of Florida. Champion recounted how he was dismissed from his Director position for not approving “pari-mutuel barrel racing.”
Champion further testified that he was asked to resign after his superior, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Commissioner Ken Lawson was instructed to effect the dismissal by Florida Governor Rick Scott’s now-departed Chief of Staff Steve MacNamara.
“Because ‘pari-mutuel barrel racing’ is specifically designed to sharply curtail the need for racehorses and their inherent job creation value, the Florida horse racing and breeding industry’s $2.2 billion statewide economic impact stands to diminish accordingly,” explained Kent Stirling, Executive Director of Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, which represents over 6,000 Thoroughbred horsemen who race in Florida.
To access the entire case history and docket, or view related litigation, go to the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings Web site or click here.
