Jul 22nd, 10
...The basic agreement Hialeah has offered is $55,000 per day for 22 days from November 26, 2010 to January 2, 2011. FQHRA has not accepted this offer for various reasons with the main one being that FQHRA does not believe that it is a financially feasible offer as far as the horsemen are concerned...

Dear FQHRA members and supporters of AQHA racing in Florida ,

            As all of you know FQHRA has been working with Hialeah on an agreement for the 2010/2011 meet since May. We had verbally agreed to have the agreement finalized by June 21, 2010. The basic agreement Hialeah has offered is $55,000 per day for 22 days from November 26, 2010 to January 2, 2011. FQHRA has not accepted this offer for various reasons with the main one being that FQHRA does not believe that it is a financially feasible offer as far as the horsemen are concerned.

            The Florida statutes say that for a QH permitted track to have a gaming or pari-mutuel license they must have a signed agreement with FQHRA, Inc. or the group that represents the majority of the horsemen at the track. The “OR” language had to be put in because otherwise it could be challenged as unconstitutional. However DBPR/Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering has told us since FQHRA, Inc. was named in the Florida statutes and since we are the official racing affiliate of the AQHA for Florida, that unless a group comes up with substantial evidence that they are the new group representing Florida QH racing, that DBPR will require that the agreement be with FQHRA,Inc.

            Hialeah has been making phone calls trying to start a new horsemen’s group in spite of the Florida DBPR comments stated in the above paragraph. Several of the recipients of the phone calls have called our office stating the information about Hialeah trying to start a new group. What this is doing is creating confusion among the horsemen as to whether there will actually be racing in Florida this year. FQHRA has contacted Hialeah via email stating that we are aware of their new endeavor. In the long run they are just wasting time and will come to the conclusion that they need an agreement with the official horsemen’s group that represents the QH racing interests in Florida and that group is FQHRA, Inc.

            FQHRA, Inc. asks that the horsemen understand that it was FQHRA, Inc. that got their payment in purse money for them in the 2009/2010 meet. Without FQHRA,Inc it is safe to say that the horsemen would not have ever gotten their underpayment repaid. It was FQHRA, Inc. that fought for them in the legislature to get the tracks with gaming and also the tracks with poker and the possibility of expanded gaming as QH permitted tracks. While FQHRA,Inc in no way discourages anyone from joining any group, we do encourage the horsemen to work with a group that they believe has their best interest and the long term best interest of Florida Quarter Horse racing. QH racing came on the radar screen for the first time since 1992 in August 2005. It has gone from a mere interest to a new and fast growing industry in less than 5 years. QH racing in Florida is at the brink of being one of the top racing states in the country. We just need to stick together and see it through.

            FQHRA, Inc. asks you to think about whom and what group has your best interest in mind. Once you decide what group that is, then stick with and be loyal to that group. The tracks in Florida have to have an agreement with the horsemen to get their gaming license. The horsemen understand that the tracks have to make a living but the horsemen will be selling themselves short now and for years to come by racing for less than what is fair.

            We are working within DBPR guidelines to provide a win/win situation for the track and the horsemen. This would include stretching the meet over more weeks and providing a purse schedule that Hialeah would take if the roles were reversed. Last year we ran for $100,000 per day for 40 days and 10 weeks. The statutes minimum requirement for this racing year is 20 days and 8 races per day. Next year it moves to 3     0 days and then eventually 40 days. The meet this year will be 100% QH and meets hereafter ALWAYS have to be at least 50% QH. The QH permit at Hialeah CANNOT be converted to a TB permit.

            FQHRA is working hard to have an agreement that will work for both sides very shortly. FQHRA has other racing opportunities with good purses on the drawing board for 2010 and 2011. Your patience, loyalty and effort to make the 2010/2011 Hialeah meet a productive one are appreciated. Please feel free to email or call with any questions.