Tampa Transformed
Ten years ago, Tampa Bay Downs was a cheap track without a turf course and little to offer horseplayers. Since then, “The transformation has been remarkable. Someone at Tampa Bay Downs figured out they key to success is to give the horseplayer what he or she wants: grass racing, big fields and competitive races that produce sizeable payoffs. More so than perhaps any track in the country, Tampa Bay Downs offers a nice portion of all three.” The racing at Tampa isn’t the classiest — the track is one of the few places cheap claiming horses from tracks such as Suffolk Downs and Finger Lakes can run during the winter — but players don’t seem to mind. The opening day handle totaled more than $3.1 million. (ESPN)
Related: “Tampa Bay Downs sets records” (St. Petersburg Times)
For Suffolk fans: Those interested in keeping track of Suffolk jockeys and trainers this winter at tracks such as Tampa, Charles Town, and Philadelphia Park should check out the frequently updated Simo-Steam page on the Downs’ web site.
