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TALLAHASSEE - Gulfstream Park plans to spend $150-million for a complete overhaul of its Hallandale Beach horse track and bring thoroughbred racing to a new Ocala facility if the Legislature changes the pari-mutuel laws allowing for more simulcast wagering.
Gulfstream plans to spend $100-million to upgrade its current track and $50-million to open the Ocala facility, which would be used for "short boutique meets," Gulfstream chairman Douglas Donn said.
But it wants to offer simulcast betting at night and throughout the year, as dog tracks and jai-alai frontons do.
"In order to grow new fans you have to be operating either live racing or non-live racing all year, which we can't do today and everybody else can do and every other major track in the country can do," Donn said. "The horse industry has been inhibited and ... it's dying."
Gulfstream would rebuild its facilities and install a new racing surface as part of the redevelopment. It plans a sports entertainment complex similar to the ESPN Zone restaurants, Donn said.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted 6-2 to approve a bill (SB 2474) that would allow thoroughbred tracks to expand their simulcast hours. Also, horse tracks can sell their signal to other pari-mutuel facilities within a 25 mile radius, which now is prohibited. For Gulfstream that would include Dania Jai-Alai, Hollywood Greyhound track and others.
Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, proposed the changes as an amendment to an existing bill, saying they would facilitate $150-million in economic investment.
Donn said Rep. Joe Pickens, R-Palatka, will sponsor a companion proposal in the House. Supporters argue it is not an expansion of gambling because other pari-mutuel facilities already have year-round simulcasting.
But Argenziano acknowledges stiff opposition. Among opponents in the industry is Calder Race Course, which is located in Miami-Dade County, a few miles from Gulfstream. Lobbyist Wilbur Brewton said the bill would force Calder to sell its simulcast signal to Gulfstream.
Gulfstream offers live racing three months out of the year; Calder operates the other nine months.
Gulfstream's owners have bought property for a track in Ocala, where horse breeding is the largest industry.
"There should be a track in Ocala because we have the second best breeding in the country and this track would help elevate that," Donn said.