by Mike Curry

Florida horsemen and Churchill Downs Inc. on Saturday reached a verbal agreement on the distribution of slot-machine revenues and a new purse contract. The verbal agreements are expected to allow Calder Race Course to broadcast its simulcast signal in time for the Summit of Speed card on July 12.

Kent Stirling, executive director of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, confirmed verbal agreements on both contracts, which could be signed on Monday.

The Florida HBPA declined to discuss specific details of the contracts, but Stirling said the new contracts do not cover division of advance-deposit-wagering revenues. Calder will be permitted to send its simulcast signal to other racetracks, off-shore betting providers, and Las Vegas casinos once the agreements are finalized.

“We wanted to get an agreement done before Summit of Speed as did Churchill Downs because if we didn’t, this meet is destroyed for the rest of the year and who knows what the future would hold,” Stirling said. “The Summit of Speed is that big to Calder, and to not have that going anywhere would be destructive to both sides.”

Stirling also said under terms of Saturday’s verbal agreement Churchill Downs Inc.’s lawsuit against Florida HBPA will be dropped.

The Calder meeting opened on April 21 without an agreement between the track and the Florida HBPA over division of advanced-deposit-wagering revenues and future slot-machine revenues.

Florida horsemen blocked track owner Churchill Downs Inc. from broadcasting its simulcast signal, after which Calder slashed purses by 30%. The impasse continued for more than 2 1/2 months until Saturday’s agreement.

“It was a long, hard struggle, but our horsemen were adamant and stood very solid behind us,” Stirling said. “I think it came as quite a shock to Churchill Downs.”

Stirling said discussions on the division of advance-deposit-wagering revenues will be handled by the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group, which is negotiating on behalf of horsemen at Calder, Lone Star Park, Churchill Downs, Thistledown, River Downs, and Presque Isle Downs.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor