OLDSMAR, Fla. (December 30, 2008) Jockey Daniel Centeno, who secured the riding title here over the past two seasons of racing, escorted three horses to the Winner’s Circle on today’s ten race card. Centeno’s first victory came aboard Roboponi, a three-year-old Volponi gelding owned by Frank C. Calabrese under the care of Rick Slomkowski. Centeno next scored wearing the colors of Wheelock Whitney aboard Glen Wilding, a four-year-old Devil’s Bag filly. Glen Wilding was bred in Florida by Whitney and was conditioned to victory by Leigh Delacour. Centeno rounded out his hat trick with Cooltime, a three-year-old Florida-bred gelded son of Unbridled Time trained by conditioner Derek Ryan for owner Liam Benson.

FINISH LINES… Tampa Bay Downs is saddened to announce the loss of trainer Joe McAlister due to illness. McAlister is survived by his wife Jolane. A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, December 31 at 1PM at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home, 910 E. Silver Springs Blvd., in Ocala. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ocala Farm Ministry. For more information, please see the attached document.

Tampa Bay Downs’s January schedule picks up on Friday, January 2 with five-day race weeks; Mondays and Wednesdays will offer Poker and Simulcast only, with the exception of live racing held on Wednesday, January 21.

Promotional events held at the Oldsmar oval throughout the month of January include the reinstatement of Sunday Brunch on January 4th. Patrons may enjoy a full day of racing and first class dining at Tampa Bay Downs’ Sunday Brunch Buffet for only $27.95 in the Skye Terrace Dining Room. Also on Tampa Bay Downs’s January calendar is Skyway Festival Day, to be held on January 17th. Skyway Festival Day is Tampa’s premiere day of three-year-old racing in January, featuring the bright stars of the Oldsmar oval competing in the $65,000 Gasparilla Stakes for three-year-old fillies and the $75,000 Pasco Stakes for colts and geldings three years old. Both stakes races are contested over the main track at the 7/8 miles distance.

January 24th marks the track’s annual Cap Giveaway Day; visitors will receive a free Tampa Bay Downs Cap with paid admission while supplies last, and jockeys will be on hand throughout the day to sign autographs and answer questions. Family Fiesta Day returns on January 25th, with an afternoon of free Latin entertainment and personalities, pony rides, games and more. Family Fiesta Day begins at 11:00 AM and continues 3:00 PM. The month of January is rounded out with Roll Back the Prices Day on January 31st. Roll Back the Prices features $1.00 Beer, $1.00 Nathan’s Hot Dogs and $1.00 Soda. These items are offered between the hours of 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM in concession stands track-wide.

Racing resumes tomorrow, December 31 with a ten race card. The Silks Poker room is open daily from 12:30 PM through 12:30 AM, and The Downs Golf Practice Facility is open on Mondays from 10:00 AM through 10:00 PM and on Tuesdays through Sundays from 8:30 AM through 10:00 PM.