The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association has waived most registration fees for Florida-bred foals of 2025 for members of the association who are the breeders of record on foal papers, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The association characterized the elimination of the fees as a one-time reward for support from members during a recent legislative battle, but officials on Wednesday said that they would evaluate the impact of the elimination of the fees on the organization’s budget under the hopes that it would be made permanent.
Members of the FTBOA previously paid $125 to register a foal prior to an end-of-August deadline and $200 under a deadline at the end of the year. Registration during the yearling year for FTBOA member will remain $400, under a schedule distributed by the organization. Registrations during a horse’s 2-year-old year will also remain at their current levels.
Registration fees for statebred programs are common. In Kentucky, registration fees for the KTDF program, the richest in the country by far, run from $75-$350 depending on the age of the horse. Most of the bonuses in the KTDF program are raised from a tax on gambling-machine revenue at state tracks and track-owned casinos.
Registration in the FTBOA program allows horses to be eligible for bonuses and to participate in a rich series of stakes for Florida-breds under the Florida Sire Stakes program.
Earlier this year, the FTBOA was one of the primary Florida constituencies to oppose an effort to decouple casino licenses from Florida pari-mutuel licenses, a measure being sought by Gulfstream Park’s parent company, 1/ST Racing. Dozens of FTBOA members provided testimony during legislative hearings in opposition to the bill, which was pulled from consideration late in the legislative session.
“After successfully defending our industry – once again – against decoupling efforts in the 2025 legislative session, we wanted to show our appreciation for the unwavering support of Florida's Thoroughbred breeding community,” Lonny Powell, the chief executive of the FTBOA, said in a release. “It's our way of giving back to those who stand with us.”
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