Written by Jennie ReesThe Benevolent & Protective Association of National Horsemen
Damon Thayer is no stranger to making a case from the pulpit, having served in the Kentucky State Senate for 22 years. What was the topic of his keynote speech at the National HBPA Convention on Tuesday? Collaboration is invariably preferable than extinction.
At the Safety Harbor Resort in the Greater Tampa area, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association began their shortened two-day conference, which was packed with presentations and topical panels.
Throughout his 35-minute speech, Thayer offered sobering, occasionally hilarious, and sometimes ridiculous ideas. Thayer’s main message, although recognizing the industry’s many positive aspects as well as its storm clouds, was how crucial it is for horsemen in every racing jurisdiction to cultivate ties with their state legislators, ideally during off-peak hours.
It’s mind-blowing what a lawmaker must deal with on a daily basis, and if an industry isn’t on the same page, the simplest thing a legislator can do is to say, “I’m a no,” he added. But because to the simple principle that cooperation is always preferable than extinction, our industry (in Kentucky) came together swiftly.
Now, he said, don’t wait for a crisis. due to the impending disaster. A necessity. Break the glass and sound the fire alarm. Don’t wait until you need something to cultivate such ties. Invite them to the racetrack, your farm, your training facility, or your veterinary office when they’re not in class. The jobs must be shown to them. Inform them of the number of checks you write to blacksmiths and dealers each month.
Additionally, avoid complacency. Just because we currently have it doesn’t mean that someone won’t try to take it away. In Kentucky, there are those who oppose horse racing. You must use caution. However, you must establish these connections.
Thayer was initially selected as the keynote speaker by National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback to tell the tale of Kentucky’s remarkable success with historical horse racing (HHR) and how that might apply to other states. The issue concerning Gulfstream Park’s ownership promoting a plan that would permit the South Florida track to retain its gambling licenses without the present legal requirement to conduct live thoroughbred racing quickly gained widespread attention after Thayer was lined up.
In the end, Thayer was hired as a senior advisor to the new Thoroughbred Racing Initiative after penning an opinion piece for the National HBPA about how the Florida government had to learn from Kentucky. The National HBPA is part of that industry partnership that is attempting to thwart Florida’s decoupling legislation.
According to Thayer, the decoupling bill appears to be well-oiled in Tallahassee in order to pass the House. Therefore, we want to eliminate the Senate’s decoupling clause. This is going to be a difficult ascent. However, we’re all cooperating.
Gulfstream Park was purchased by Canadian horseman and billionaire Frank Stronach in 1999, long before the Florida constitutional amendment that permitted casino-style gaming at pari-mutuel establishments in Broward County was passed in 2005. After a tense argument with her father, Belinda Stronach, a former member of Canada’s Parliament, assumed leadership of her family’s racing and casino operations, which included Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, in 2020.
According to Thayer, large storm clouds are building here in Florida. Up in the 51st state, a Canadian-owned business was founded by a former Canadian member of parliament. Hold on! Apologies, but we haven’t yet struck a $3 billion industry. The Canadian firm that was granted the privilege of operating a casino at its racecourse in Hallandale Beach, Florida, which generates $50 to $60 million annually, now wishes to renounce that promise and abandon a $3 billion industry that employs 33,000 people.
According to Thayer, states with strong ties between the racing sector and their lawmakers will be the ones where racing circuits continue to exist and prosper over the next five to ten years. To mention a few, he mentioned Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Indiana, and Arkansas.
“Racing has a great story to tell about the jobs, the tourism, the preservation of land and green space, the taxes paid, and the reinvestment in the economy,” he added, emphasizing that horsemen must make sure lawmakers hear their side of the story.
Thayer listed the underappreciated benefits of horse racing today, pointing to the extensive coverage on social media, the abundance of excellent racing podcasts, and satellite radio shows like Steve Byk’s At The Races during the week.
You can watch horse racing on Fox and two different FanDuel networks every day,” he added, mentioning that 72-year-old trainer Lonnie Briley had won the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park with Coal Battle. I watched the Rebel Stakes on Sunday, and Lonnie Briley won. It was a fantastic story that brought to mind California Chrome and Smarty Jones. Maggie Wolfendale is waiting to interview Andie Biancone on Fox, as she receives the first interview on FanDuel. Thirty years ago, we could never have envisioned it. That’s a good thing.
Positive developments that Thayer highlighted included Equibase’s pursuit of a race rating system in America that would allow horses not good enough for higher allowance or stakes races to be competitive without running the risk of losing your horse via the claim box and Tina Bond’s Heart of Horse Racing high-tech marketing venture (the subject of another panel Tuesday). (Thayer stated that he is not in favor of doing away with claiming races.)
He added that Maryland is constructing a training center and renovating Pimlico. Together, Virginia and Maryland are laying the foundation for a Mid-Atlantic circuit. Belmont Park was rebuilt with $500 million from New York.
“I especially like the Kentucky story,” Thayer added, “where every track figures to offer maiden races for Kentucky-breds being $80,000 or more.” Due to a few rules we implemented that permit the industry to invest in itself, we are witnessing billions of dollars being spent on facilities in Kentucky.
The biggest battle of my political life, according to Thayer, was the 2021 adoption of the law to codify the legality of HHR.
“I think there would only be Keeneland in the spring and fall and a short Derby-centric meet at Churchill Downs in Kentucky if the legislation hadn’t been passed,” he said, acknowledging the seriousness of the threat. Because the (HHR) machinery would have had to be removed, switched off, and placed on the historical trash heap if the law hadn’t been passed. We were able to pass it, nevertheless, because to the incredible lobbying efforts of everyone banding together and rowing in unison. You can see the effects now.
The National HBPA and several of its affiliates, among other organizations, are contesting the validity of the Authority (also known as HISA) corporation established by the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act of 2020, which Thayer also made some very scathing comments about.
He claimed that HISA is a contentious issue in our sector. People I like and respect managed to sneak the measure through the budget reconciliation procedure in the middle of the night. I simply don’t agree with them on this point. I support state sovereignty. Amendment Ten. Only what the states are unable to undertake for themselves should be handled by the federal government. Additionally, I don’t believe that the federal government should impose a $85 million law on us without covering its costs. Why must states foot the bill for a federal law?
There will be states that choose not to take part in HISA. Under the Interstate Horse Racing Act (of 1978), they will forfeit their simulcasting rights, and our level of uniformity will be lower than it was before to HISA’s creation. My area code is full with folks that support it. In order to try to improve it or have it replaced with something better, I would want to lend my voice.
In addition to his many responsibilities, Thayer owns a small stake in a number of horses through the CJ Thoroughbreds partnership. One is Kentucky HBPA President Dale Romans’s stakes-winning 3-year-old Keep It Easy. Gulfstream Park is getting ready for the Kentucky Derby with Keep It Easy running in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth.
I own one share of the 25 percent that C.J. Thoroughbreds owns in Keep It Easy, he said. But to me he s still my horse. I m really excited to be on the Derby trail with Dale. I met Dale in the early 1990s at Turfway Park. Speaking of himself, he said, I never thought a kid from Northern Michigan could end up with a Kentucky Derby prospect.
Damon Thayer recently stepped down after 22 years in the Kentucky General Assembly, the last 12 as Senate Majority Floor Leader. He has served in numerous capacities in track management, marketing and publicity, work that continues with his Thayer Communications and Consulting marketing company. Thayer is a partner in racehorses through C.J. Thoroughbreds. He recently was named senior advisor to the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative to fight decoupling legislation in Florida.
