THIS IS WHAT YOUR FQHRA PROTECTS YOU FROM.

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Jan 25th, 12
THIS IS WHAT YOUR FQHRA PROTECTS YOU FROM. FQHRA IS WORKING IN THE LEGISLATURE NOW TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION AND TO PROVIDE MORE RACING OPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS. FQHRA IS WORKING TOWARD MAKING FLORIDA A PROFITIABLE PLACE TO RACE AND BREED AMERICAN QUARTER HORSES.

THIS IS WHAT YOUR FQHRA PROTECTS YOU FROM. FQHRA IS WORKING IN THE LEGISLATURE NOW TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION AND TO PROVIDE MORE RACING OPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS. FQHRA IS WORKING TOWARD MAKING FLORIDA A PROFITIABLE PLACE TO RACE AND BREED AMERICAN QUARTER HORSES.

FQHRA APPRECIATES YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT

Pari-Mutuel Barrel Racing's "North Florida Horsemen’s Association” Controlled by Gretna Racing, LLC Owners

State of Florida Literally Cheated Out of 99.1 Percent Of Revenue It Could Be Earning Through Legitimate Quarter Horse Racing

Together with former third-generation Gulfstream Park attorney David Romanik, Gulfstream Park lobbyist, Marc Dunbar is the part-owner of Gretna Racing, LLC, which is causing a deliberate horse racing industry decimation and dramatic loss of State revenue by having unilaterally introduced “pari-mutuel barrel racing” in North Florida. This outright mockery of Florida law is enabled by these individuals' own non-profit corporation known as the “North Florida Horsemen’s Association.”

Because the "North Florida Horsemen’s Association" is controlled by Dunbar and Romanik, revenues from Gretna’s cardrooms and, ultimately, slot machines, can easily be funneled back to their self-owned Gretna Racing, LLC, not the “North Florida Horsemen’s Association” members who have unwittingly signed away their State and Federal purse negotiating rights (copy of the NFHA "Pledge" is attached). These unsuspecting horsemen and women don't realize that their rights to Gretna Racing's revenues would otherwise be ensured under both Florida law and the Federal Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978, the intent of which was never to have tracks own their own horsemen's unions, since without ensuring lucrative purses to attract competitors, horse racing of any kind ceases to be a proper economic driver and job creator for any state.

If legitimate Quarter Horse racing sanctioned by the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association ("FQHRA") was taking place at Gretna Racing instead, these horsemen's interests would otherwise be protected and, what’s more, the State of Florida would be earning more in tax revenue. The irony is that legitimate Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association-sanctioned Quarter Horse racing at Hialeah Park is out-earning Gretna “pari-mutuel barrel racing” by 99.1 percent, as reported to the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Gretna only pays $19.64 per day in pari-mutuel taxes.

With only 36 horses needed to complete Gretna's entire "pari-mutuel barrel racing" meet, versus nearly 1,000 that are stabled right now at Hialeah Park, the FQHRA's success in turn, spurs economic development and job creation in both the racing and breeding industries since that revenue is properly shared with horsemen according to State and Federal law, thanks to the FQHRA. As further evidence, Hialeah’s legitimate Quarter Horse meet has 803 licensed pari-mutuel employees registered at its facility, whereas Gretna Racing has only 38 comparable licensees. Documented attendance at Hialeah Park averages 4,100 per day. The Associated Press and other major media reported Gretna Racing to attract only 20-50 people per day.

But the fact is, Dunbar and Romanik are actually now profiting at Gretna Racing from the very same business plan that they, themselves are suing the law-abiding horsemen’s associations for and, even worse, promulgating throughout Florida. During 2011, Dunbar and Romanik launched a spurious lawsuit against the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Florida Quarter Horse Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, in which they claim damage from what the Florida Legislature ordained these statutory organizations to do: Protect horsemen’s rights.

Nearly 450,000 members of United Florida Horsemen feel that the Florida Legislature should not support or negotiate with any person or entity that is currently engaged in a lawsuit designed to destroy horsemen’s livelihoods through self-dealing by means of dummy, self-owned horsemen’s associations designed exclusively to funnel pari-mutuel, card room and slot machine profits back to the track owners, rather than to properly disburse it to horsemen according to law.

To view State of Florida documentation on the ownership of “North Florida Horsemen’s Association,” click here.

*Data in this report based on reported Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering data

Florida Non Profit Corporation: NORTH FLORIDA HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION, INC.

Filing Information

Document Number: N09000005229

FEI/EIN Number: APPLIED

Date Filed: 05/29/2009

State: FL

Status: ACTIVE

Principal Address 215 SOUTH MONROE STREET, 2ND FLOOR TALLAHASSEE FL 32301-1839

Mailing Address P.O. BOX 10095 TALLAHASSEE FL 32302-2095

Registered Agent Name & Address: DUNBAR, MARC W 215 SOUTH MONROE STREET, 2ND FLOOR TALLAHASSEE FL 32301-1839

US Officer/Director Detail Name & Address Title D: ROMANIK, DAVID S 215 SOUTH MONROE STREET, 2ND FLOOR TALLAHASSEE FL 32301-1839