Tampa Bay Hikes Non-Stakes Purses 10 Percent, Citing Horsemen's Efforts and strong Handle

 

From Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs will increase purses for all races except stakes by approximately 10-percent beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 16. 

Peter Berube, the  track 'sVice  President-General Manager  said the increase will be $1,500 for maiden special weight and allowance races and $1,000 for claiming and starter races.

“Thanks to the efforts of former (Tampa Bay Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association) President Bob Jeffries and the approval of their board, we were able to build a substantial cushion in the purse account before the current meeting,” Berube said.

“Our export (simulcast) business has been strong since racing returned on Nov. 25 and is up 29to date,” Berube said.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, Tampa Bay did not have spectators at its races between mid March and July 1 this year.

It has had spectators sine it resumed racing on Nov. 25.  They are required to wear masks  at all times and there are social distancing and sanitzing requirements.

 "We were projectin a 30-35-percent decrease in on-track wagering on live and simulcast racing to start the meeting and those projections have been correct, but the actions of the Tampa Bay HBPA and the popularity of our signal across the country enable us to feel comfortable raising purses starting next week,” Berube said.

Through the first six cards since the 2020-2021 meeting resumed, Tampa Bay Downs has averaged $3,719,055 in daily interstate wagering. The total wagering handle on Saturday’s 10-race card was a Cotillion Festival Day record $6,128,282, of which $5,702,369 was through interstate wagering.

Around the oval. Tampa Bay Downs currently races on a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday schedule, with Sundays added to the mix on Dec. 20. Additionally, the track will conduct a Thursday card on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and be closed Christmas, Dec. 25.

Otherwise, Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

 

Gulfstream: Early Pick 5 Pays $583.40

Star Swept (7) at7 -1 won Thursday's fifth race at Gulfstream Pak to complete the early  Pick 5 and start the Rainbow 6.

The payoff was $583.40 for a minimum 50 cent bet. There was no coming-in carryover.

Program numbers of the winning .Early Pick 5 horses were 1-1-3-2-7.

In the Rainbow 6, the coming-in carryover was $274,677.  Bettors added $189,114 to the pool.

The race was a $20,000 claimer at one mile over the Firm turf for 3-YOs and up. Joe Bravo rode Star Swept  for trainer Knt Sweezey. The winning time was 135.17.

The sixth race will start  the late Pick 5, with a minimum 50 cent bet.

We will have a report at the end of the race day.

Rainbow 6 Coming Up at Gulfstream

The fifth race is coming up at Gulfstream Park, and it will close out Thursday's Early Pick 5 and start the Rainbow 6.

Post time is scheduled for 2:36 p.m.  Please note that Gulfstream is now starting its races on schedule.

Winners of the first four races were Misbehaving (1) at 4-5, Markistan (1) at 7-5, Freeze Turkey (3) at 8-5 and Willy Boi (2_)  at 7-1.

Wagering on the Early Pick 5 (races one to five) was $334.55--almost one half of the $672,047 that was bet on the race.

The fifth race has nine starters. Glorious Gal (3) is on the board at 7-2 as the narrow favorite over 4-1 She Fled  the Scene (1).

  

Thursday: Two Gulfstream Carryovers, Tampa Dark

 Gulfstream Park will have ten races on Thursday with first post at 12:35 p.m.

Tampa Bay Downs will be dark on Thursday. It will resume racing  on Friday with first post at 12:42 p.m.

NOTE--We will post an expanded version of this story later this morning. 

At Gulfstream, a big attraction will be the Rainbow 6 carryover of $274,622.  The pool has grown because the championship meet, now six days old, has not had a day with just one ticket that has all six winners.

The Rainbow 6, a 20 cents per combination-only bet will be on races five through ten, with the sequence scheduled to  start at 2:36 p.m.

Gulfstream  is guaranteeing that the jackpot will be at least $475,000 if there is just one ticket with all six winners.

The first race has a Super Hi-5 carryover, of $4,851

The Weather Channel forecast is for a zero percent chance of rain during racing hours.