Gulfstream Park Sues State, Citing Unfair ‘Special Law’ on Live Racing

A lawsuit filed by the Gulfstream Park Racing Association is challenging a 2021 Florida law that requires thoroughbred tracks to continue holding live races in order to operate lucrative slot machines. The suit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court, argues that the law is an unconstitutional “special law” that unfairly targets Gulfstream and “thoroughly undermines” its ability to compete with other pari-mutuel facilities.

The law, which decoupled the racing requirement for harness-racing and quarter-horse tracks and jai alai frontons, left only thoroughbred tracks with the mandate.

At the time of the law’s passage, Gulfstream was the only thoroughbred track in the state with a slot machine license, leading its lawyers

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