Wednesday, May 16 2012
DESPITE DECLINES, TAMPA SEES SILVER LINING FOR 2012-13 SEASON AND BEYOND
Tampa Bay Downs wrapped up its 86th Thoroughbred racing season the weekend of May 5-6 with a memorable two-day celebration.
A festive crowd of 9,028, the second-largest of the meet, watched and wagered on 12 live races and the simulcast of the Kentucky Derby on the final Saturday of the 2011-12 campaign. The following day, the 92-day meeting drew to a close as the track recognized loyal patrons with the annual Fan Appreciation Day activities.
Monday, May 07 2012
FINAL DAY OF TAMPA BAY DOWNS SEASON GIVES PAUSE FOR REFLECTION
The sight of a pair of adult sandhill cranes with two adorable chicks making their way across the main track two hours before post time at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday served as a fitting metaphor for the final day of the 2011-12 Thoroughbred meeting.
For horsemen, jockeys and Tampa Bay Downs officials, Sunday was a time to reflect on the achievements of the past five months – including a highly successful Kentucky Derby Day party that attracted more than 9,000 fans – while looking forward to the promise of a bright future.
Monday, April 30 2012
TAMPA BAY DOWNS CELEBRATES KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND, 2011-12 SEASON IN STYLE
Tampa Bay Downs closes out its 2011-12 Thoroughbred racing season in style next weekend with a three-day celebration revolving around Saturday’s 138th running of the Kentucky Derby.
‘Louisville Has The Race – Tampa Has The Party!’ And while 150,000 fans are expected to flood Churchill Downs for the most exciting two minutes in sports, visitors to Tampa Bay Downs will experience much of the Derby’s splendor close to home.
Saturday, April 28 2012
SERPA SET TO DEPART TAMPA BAY DOWNS WITH WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
As an apprentice jockey at Aqueduct two years ago, Angel Serpa soaked up knowledge from Hall of Fame member Edgar Prado, perhaps best known as the rider of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
The lessons from Prado didn’t end when they left the jockeys’ room.
ROSES ULTIMATE GOAL FOR TAMPA BAY DERBY WINNER PROSPECTIVE
Owner John C. Oxley and trainer Mark Casse took several days after Prospective’s lackluster sixth-place finish in the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes to decide whether to enter the 3-year-old colt in the Kentucky Derby.
Oxley won the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos and captured the Kentucky Oaks with Gal in a Ruckus in 1995, the same year he ran both Jambalaya Jazz and Pyramid Peak in the Derby. Oxley and his wife Debby also campaigned 1999 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Beautiful Pleasure.
Thursday, April 26 2012
PREPARING TO GO ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Traditionally, the exodus from the Tampa Bay Downs barn area begins with a trickle after spring break, accelerating gradually as the 3-year-old picture rounds into focus and the last remnants of winter depart from the Northeast, Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions.
Suddenly – much too soon for Thoroughbred racing fans up and down Florida’s west coast – only six racing days remain in the 2011-12 season, the 86th at the track. It is time again for trainers and jockeys to start packing, call the van companies and head to their next destination.
Monday, April 23 2012
LORELEI’S SONG DELIVERS A SWEET TUNE IN CAREER DEBUT AT TAMPA BAY DOWNS
On an otherwise ordinary Sunday afternoon of racing at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Will Phipps officially unveiled a 3-year-old filly a lot of people may be talking about later this year.
Kentucky-bred Lorelei’s Song sat off a rapid pace set by No Contest before commencing her move at the quarter-pole and proved every bit the best through the stretch, drawing away by a length-and-a-half from Bella Vida to capture the five-furlong, $20,500 maiden special weight affair in 59 seconds flat on a wet-fast surface.
Saturday, April 21 2012
ALLEN SAVORS THE CHASE; BEAR ALWAYS SETS TRACK RECORD
With nine days left in the 2011-12 Tampa Bay Downs meeting, Ronnie Allen, Jr. knows his chance of repeating as the track’s leading jockey is slim.
Allen, who won Friday’s first race aboard the 3-year-old gelding Wokeuponhomeplate for owner Winning Stables Inc., and La Marca Stable and trainer Gerald Bennett, has 67 victories, 21 fewer than Leandro Goncalves. Tampa Bay Downs newcomer Angel Serpa is third with 63 victories.
Monday, April 16 2012
KENTUCKY DERBY AT TAMPA BAY DOWNS - A SLICE OF AMERICANA IN OUR BACKYARD
The garland of red roses draped across the winner’s withers. Mint juleps. The Twin Spires atop the roofline at Churchill Downs. Derby hats. Derby pools. College students partying in the infield. The old Kentucky Home far away.
Since its first running in 1875, the Kentucky Derby has established enough tradition to blanket relatively short-lived spectaculars such as the Super Bowl, Masters and NBA Finals.
Sunday, April 15 2012
COLLINS SHOWS HE HASN’T LOST THE WINNING TOUCH
Six years ago, trainer Johnny Collins gained his greatest fame when he turned Live Oak Stud’s Miesque’s Approval from a beaten $50,000 claimer into a Breeders’ Cup Mile winner.
Winning three races in two days at Tampa Bay Downs – two on Saturday – probably pales in comparison. But for Collins, the opportunity to get the most from a horse has always been what the sport of Thoroughbred racing is all about.
Friday, April 13 2012
LONG-SHOT BETTORS REAP BIG REWARDS
Long-shot players had plenty of reasons to rejoice at Tampa Bay Downs on a Friday the 13th card that proved mighty unlucky for favorites.
A steady string of misfortune for the bettors’ choices reached a high – or low – point in the seventh race, when even-money favorite and apparent winner Gallop Girl was disqualified for interference shortly after the break.
LONG-SHOT BETTORS REAP BIG REWARDS
Long-shot players had plenty of reasons to rejoice at Tampa Bay Downs on a Friday the 13th card that proved mighty unlucky for favorites.
A steady string of misfortune for the bettors’ choices reached a high – or low – point in the seventh race, when even-money favorite and apparent winner Gallop Girl was disqualified for interference shortly after the break.
