At least two years in the making, proposed pari-mutuel regulations continue to leave industry operators divided, with some saying the rules don’t go far enough and others complaining that the plan will put them out of business.
State gambling regulators held a hearing Monday on the latest version of the proposed rules, released last month for the third time in two years. The proposed regulations deal with everything from how much jockeys can weigh to the sizes of horse tracks and jai alai frontons. Much of the plan is aimed at curbing controversial rodeo-style barrel racing and “flag drop” horse races, first implemented by a small track in North Florida.
