STATE OF FLORIDA EX REL. WEST FLAGLER KENNEL CLUB, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, RELATOR,
v.
FLORIDA STATE RACING COMMISSION AND RAY E. DILG, JULIAN LANE, J. M. CARUTHERS, MILLARD G. GILMORE AND FRANK WINCHELL, AS AND CONSTITUTING THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA STATE RACING COMMISSION, RESPONDENTS

Fla. | 1954-09-24
ROBERTS, C. J., and TERRELL, SE-BRING and MATHEWS, JJ., concur. '
74 So. 2d 691 Florida Supreme Court (1954) Positive Treatment
Cited by 30 cases

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Synopsis

West Flagler Kennel Club sought mandamus to compel the Florida State Racing Commission to rescind its allocation of dog racing dates in Dade County. The Florida Supreme Court denied the petition, holding that the Commission did not abuse its discretion in allocating equal racing dates to each track, particularly after a 1947 statutory amendment that enlarged the Commission's discretionary authority.


Holding

The Court held that the State Racing Commission did not abuse its discretion in allocating racing dates. Mandamus will not be granted because relator failed to show discrimination, lack of fairness and impartiality, or any clear legal right to relief. The 1947 statutory amendment enlarged the Commission's discretion to consider not only track operators' interests but also the State's interests when fixing racing dates.


Key Quotes

“That mandamus will not be granted where the right to it is doubtful, or that the granting of such a writ is a matter of discretion and that it may be employed to coerce action but that it will not be employed to control action or discretion, is so fundamental that supporting authority is unnecessary.”

Establishes the fundamental principle that mandamus is unavailable to control discretionary action, which is central to the Court's denial of the petition.

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Facts & Procedural History

The State Racing Commission allocated an equal number of racing days to dog tracks in Dade County, including West Flagler Kennel Club. The allocation …

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

Relator filed its petition for alternative writ of mandamus in this Court, directed to respondents, praying that they meet and rescind their order apportioning dates for racing to the several dog tracks in Dade County or to show cause on a day certain why they refuse to do so. Biscayne Kennel Club, the holder of a permit to conduct dog races in said county, was permitted to ap pear and file a brief amicus curiae. Objection's to issuance of the alternative, including a return, were filed to the petition.

The ultimate question raised by the pleadings is whether or not the State Racing Commission abused its discretion in allocating racing dates to the dog tracks in Dade County.

That mandamus will not be granted where the right to it is doubtful, or that the ‘¡granting of such a writ is a matter of discretion and that it may be employed to coerce action but that it will not be employed to control action or discretion, is so fundamental that supporting authority is unnecessary. It is admitted that the State Racing Commission allocated an equal number of days for racing to each of the dog tracks in question. The statute relied on is Section 550.02(1) F.S. as amended by Section (1) Chapter 24348, Acts of 1947, F.S.A. Relator contends that respondent abused its discretion in awarding dates for dog racing to the various dog tracks in Dade County. The following authorities are relied on to support this contention: State ex rel. Pinellas Kennel Club, Inc. v. State Racing Commission, 116 Fla. 143, 156 So. 317; State ex rel. West Flagler Amusement Company, Inc. v. Rose, 122 Fla. 227, 165 So. 60; State ex rel. Biscayne Kennel Club, Inc. v. State Racing Commission, 126 Fla. 298, 170 So. 839, and State ex rel. Biscayne Kennel Club, Inc. v. Stein, 130 Fla. 517, 178 So. 133.

These cases were decided prior to Chapter 24348, Acts of 1947, amending Section 550.02(1) which removed the requirement that racing dates be apportioned to the several tracks in a “fair and impartial manner”. Since the 1947 amendment racing dates are apportioned to the counties “as provided by law”. We do not hold that the latter amendment had the effect of removing the requirement that racing dates be fixed in a fair and impartial manner but we do hold that it enlarged the discretion of the State Racing Commission and authorized it to consider not only the interest' of those operating race tracks but the interest of the State as well when it fixed racing dates. State ex rel. Hollywood Jockey Club, Inc. v. Stein, 129 Fla. 777, 176 So. 849; Hialeah Race Course, Inc. v. Gulfstream Park Racing Association, Inc., Fla., 37 So. 2d 692.

Aside from what may be reasonably inferred from the change in the governing statute, relator has failed to show any discrimination or that fairness and impartiality were not observed by respondents when they apportioned racing dates among the dog tracks in Dade County. The record shows that the present allocation of racing dates is not materially different from those prevailing for the past eight years, under which there has been a consistent increase in both parimutuel play and state revenue. Such increase has been noted in all competitive tracks. It is a fact that there were differences in the amounts taken in by the tracks. Relator advances argument to show the fallacy of this conclusion but considered in the light of all the factors that respondents were required to consider in fixing racing dates, that is to say the interest of the track owner, the interest of the State, the good will, the quality of dogs, track facilities, geography, skill in management, and others, the results reveal nothing to show discrimination.

The over-all picture as represented at the Bar of this Court shows that the four dog tracks affected by this litigation had parimutuel play for the recent racing season of more than $57,000,000 or an average of approximately $14,250,000 for each track. The petition of relator shows that its mu-tuel play for the 1954 season was $14,271,-309, slightly more than the average of all the dog tracks who are affected by this suit. Other deductions drawn from the pleadings, the interpretation of these and other figures in the light of the pleadings, show conclusively that respondents have committed no abuse of discretion. In this pronouncement we have not overlooked the contention with reference to differences between relator’s track and Biscayne Kennel Club track including’ other comparisons drawn by relator, but consideration of them shows no abuse of discretions. Since the pleadings show affirmatively that the dates complained of treat all dog track owners including relator, substantially alike, that no substantial discrimination against relator is shown, that the petition shows no clear legal right to the -relief prayed for, nor does it show any clear legal, duty on the part of respondents to rescind the order complained of and apportion new racing dates for the coming season, the petition should be and is hereby denied.

It is so ordered.

ROBERTS, C. J., and TERRELL, SE-BRING and MATHEWS, JJ., concur. '


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Citator

Cited By (12 total)

  • …e of a [*827] strong showing that the interests of the state are being adversely affected by the allocation of such dates. The factors to be considered are discussed in State ex rel. West Flagler Kennel Club, Inc. v. Florida State Racing Commission, 74 So. 2d 691 (Fla.1954).” (p.378) At the Board’s hearing it was established by counsel for all three tracks in Dade County that there was no material changes in the tracks, or their facilities, which would affect the finding of the Board contrary to the finding…
    1 / 2
  • W. Flagler Assocs., Ltd. v. Bd. OF Bus. Reg., 241 So. 2d 369 (Fla. 1970)
    …absence of a strong showing that the interests of the state are being adversely affected by the allocation of such dates. The factors to be considered are discussed in State ex rel. West Flagler Kennel Club, Inc. v. Florida State Racing Commission, 74 So. 2d 691 (Fla.1954). When two or more tracks in the same county request the same “dates” for dog racing, the Division may exercise a greater discretion in determining whether it would be in the best interests of the state to allow such competition or to all…
  • …nd Hialeah are comparable tracks in size and capacity, and the evidence presented failed to clearly establish whether Gulfstream or Hialeah is better able to meet the criteria set forth in West Flagler Kennel Club v. Florida State Racing Commission, 74 So. 2d 691, and reaffirmed in West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Board of Business Regulation, 241 So. 2d 369, and the two recent Gulfstream-Hialeah cases, 245 So. 2d 625, and 253 So. 2d 429. “(6) That comparing the performance of Gulfstream with that of Hialea…
    1 / 5

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