The Puerto Rico Horse Owners Association (PRHOA) has filed a federal lawsuit against Camarero Race Track Corp., its president Ervin Rodríguez, and the Confederación Hípica de Puerto Rico (CHPR), alleging a conspiracy to exclude PRHOA members from their legally entitled share of simulcast-in wagering revenues. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico, claims that Camarero and CHPR engaged in anticompetitive and monopolistic conduct by favoring CHPR members and pressuring PRHOA members to join the rival group, violating constitutional rights and federal antitrust laws. PRHOA argues that Camarero, operating under an exclusive state franchise, acted as a state actor and unlawfully withheld revenue without due process or compensation.

The lawsuit also accuses CHPR President Rafael Matos and former PRHOA executive Fernando Bonnet—now with CHPR—of conspiring to dismantle PRHOA, citing Bonnet’s statement that “by Christmas, PRHOA will disappear.” PRHOA seeks declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief exceeding $500,000, demanding that Camarero resume payments and cease discriminatory practices. The association contends that Camarero’s actions constitute unconstitutional government conduct and unlawful restraint of trade, as the Puerto Rican government benefits from racetrack wagering proceeds, making the track’s conduct subject to constitutional scrutiny.