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Celebrity, Everyday Horsemen Appeal to Florida Senate Gaming Committee on Horse Racing's Future

G. Herb Sheheane, FHBPA Lobbyist
October 28, 2013
 
Proudly standing as an unforgettable monument to Florida horse racing, a real Thoroughbred and jockey greeted Florida Senators this past week as they arrived to participate in the first of several upcoming statewide public hearings on a proposed overhaul of Florida’s gambling and pari-mutuel laws.
 
Provided by Carlo Vaccarezza, founder of Little Dreams Racing Stable, “PocoChico,” jockey Isidro Perez and Assistant Trainer Faustino Orantes served as the front-line ambassadors for Florida’s racehorse owners and trainers at the Florida Senate Gaming Committee kickoff in Coconut Creek (Broward County) on October 23.
 
On hand to testify in person at the hearing along Vaccarezza, was all-star trainer Dale Romans, (who is campaigning 2013 Breeders’ Cup contender “Little Mike”); South Florida-based champion jockey Juan Leyva; Venezuelan breeder/trainer Joseph Iadesernia of South Florida powerhouse “The Big Stable,” which has over 150 Thoroughbreds currently in training; Dr. Bob O’Neil, DVM–Racehorse Veterinarian and Chairman of Florida’s Board of Veterinary Medicine; Tom LaPointe FHBPA Chaplain; and Donna Collie–owner and manager of The Horsemen’s Tack Shoppe, one of the largest and longest-serving suppliers of horse supplies, racehorse and jockey equipment in South Florida.  FHBPA President Phil Combest and Executive Director Kent Stirling also spoke at the podium, along with breeder/trainer and FHBPA Board Member Teresa Palmer.