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► Florida Rotation Bill Is on Governors Desk Date Measure Passes House, 68-24; Predictions on Outcome Divided TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 26.— A bill which would drastically alter Floridas horse racing set-up was on the desk of Gov. Dan McCarty today, awaiting either his signature to make it law, or his veto. The bill, which would rotate south Floridas three racing periods between Gulf-stream, Hialeah and Tropical parks, was passed by the House Monday night, 68 to 24. It had previously passed the Senate by a 23 to 15 count. There was no indication today as to what the chief executive would do with the measure. Legislative experts were divided about equally in their predictions regarding a veto. Should the Governor veto the bill, then both the House and Senate must re-pass it by a two-thirds majority to make it law. There are 38 senators and 95 representatives in Florida, which means 26 votes in the Senate and 64 in the House would be necessary to over-ride a v*to. Under the bill, the three south Florida tracks would operate as usual next season, with Tropical opening, Hialeah running Continued on Page Forty -Three Florida Rotation Bill Is On Governors Desk Date Measure Passes House, 68-24; ; . Predictions on Outcome Divided Continued from Page One its usual 40-day "middle season" period, and Gulfstream closing. But, with the 1954-55 season, the rotation plan would go into effect, with Gulf-stream getting its shot at the "top-of-the-season" dates. In 1955-56, Tropical would grab the plum, and the following season it t would be Hialeahs turn again. Under current law, Hialeah is assured of I the mid-season dates annually through a * 1947 legislative action which guarantees s the track producing the most revenue its s choice of dates. Almost two hours of debate preceded the House ote on the rotation bill Monday y night. Anti-rotation forces based their arguments on claims that state revenue would •j be badly hurt by any change. Last season, the state received 2,800,000 from horse g racing. Proponents of the measure viewed the rotation plan as creating three "big" tracks s in south Florida, instead of one — Hialeah. Rep. Dante Fascell of Miami, a leading foe e of the rotation plan, said: "The bill would create chaos and reduce e racing. You cant plan ahead if you have to change operations every year." He added d that no state had ever adopted the rotation plan. . Rep. Emory Cross, of Gainesville, charged that Hialeah "has set on their monopoly and let the best horses and jockeys go to 0 California." Monday night was the final chance for r passing of the rotation bil|£ since both the ie House and Senate Tuesday went under the ie rule banning consideration of racing date legislation during the last 10 days of the [e season. Two amendments to the bill were proposed ,_ in the House Monday night, but were .g beaten off. If the bill had been amended 1j at all, except for an amendment involving g a tax feature, the measure would have ,g been lost.
