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Tampa Bay Downs' Summer Festival of Racing adds quarter-horse race

 
Published April 6, 2017

OLDSMAR — Tampa Bay Downs is putting more speed into its Summer Festival of Racing.

A quarter-horse race, possibly the first to be held at the Oldsmar thoroughbred track in five decades, will be on one of the two programs set for June 30-July 1.

That is the major change in the 2017-18 racing schedules for the Downs, Derby Lane and Tampa Greyhound Track. Racing permits for the area's parimutuel facilities were released recently by Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation spokeswoman Kathleen Keenan. The Department oversees the Division of Parimutuel Wagering.

The Downs will race 91 days, all but two between Nov. 25 and May 6. It also was granted a second permit for one performance of quarter-horse racing on July 1. The schedule is heavy on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday action. The Summer Festival of Racing, which will be entering its fifth year, officially ends the Downs' season June 30 and kicks off the new one July 1. After that, no live racing will be held until Nov. 25.

Last year, the Downs had eight races daily on its two Summer Festival of Racing cards. But the upcoming season will have the quarter-horse race added to the Festival's final day. Quarter-horse racing used to be held at the Downs in the 1970s.

"We were told by Tampa Bay Downs management — (vice president and general manager) Pete Berube — at our (February) board meeting that (the Downs) was going to have one quarter-horse race the first day of July to keep their quarter-horse (permit) activated," said Bob Jeffries, president of the Downs Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association. "So that's it — one day, one race."

Derby Lane, the St. Petersburg greyhound track, will continue to have year-round racing. The new season begins July 1 when it hosts Tampa Greyhound's six-month meet ending Dec. 30. A total of 210 performances are slated. Tampa Greyhound is owned by the Downs, and has an agreement with Derby Lane to hold its live racing so the facility can offer poker and simulcast wagering.

The Derby Lane six-month season has 208 performances from Jan. 1 to June 30. Both dog meets have eight weekly performances: matinees on Mondays and Thursdays, and matinee-evening doubleheaders on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is no live racing on Sundays and Tuesdays.

Friday doubleheaders began in January when Derby Lane ended Tuesday matinee racing.

"We're settling into the (new) schedule," said Cal Holland, president of the Tampa Bay Greyhound Association. "(Being off Tuesday) gives us another day to give the help off."

MORE HORSES: Sam F. Davis winner McCraken and Tampa Bay Derby winner Tapwrit start in the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday in Race 10 (6:17 p.m.) at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

MORE DOGS: The $75,000 Distance Classic is Saturday night in Race 10 (9:47) at Derby Lane.