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'Summer Festival' Set for Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs is moving ahead with a two-day meet it calls the Summer Festival of Racing.

Noble Tune Tries Plan 'B' in American Turf

Trainer Chad Brown brings 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Noble Tune to the May 3 American Turf (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs after making a decision not to run him in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I).

Martinez, Trinniberg Look Forward to Dubai

Jockey is full of confidence as he prepares to ride last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint champion in the Dubai Golden Shaheen March 30 at Meydan Racecourse.

Verrazano Stays Unbeaten in Tampa Bay Derby

Verrazano lived up to his billing as a top Triple Crown contender March 9 with a solid three-length score in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Play It Again: Old Tune Wins Hillsborough

Stud TNT's Old Tune, winner of Tampa Bay Downs' Feb. 2 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT), returns to win the March 9 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at nine furlongs. Her score is trainer Todd Pletcher's fourth Hillsborough victory.

Old Tune, Mystical Star Head Hillsborough

A strong group of 12 older fillies will contest the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs March 9, including Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) victress Old Tune and grade II winner Mystical Star.

Verrazano Makes Tampa Bay Derby Stakes Debut

Highly-regarded sophomore Verrazano makes his stakes debut against eight others March 9 in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs, rolling in off an impressive 16 3/4-length allowance win at Gulfstream Park.

Tampa Bay Derby Was Perfect for Street Sense

Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger recalls choosing the Tampa Bay Derby as a steppingstone for Street Sense's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) success.

Falling Sky, Sky Captain Scratch from FOY

Falling Sky, winner of the Feb. 2 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs, was scratched from the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) the morning of the race, as was maiden winner Sky Captain.

Swift Warrior Hits Target in Tampa Bay Stakes

Surging in the final yards, Swift Warrior prevailed in a tight four-horse finish to the $150,000 Tampa Bay Stakes for his second grade III victory in a row Feb. 16 on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs.

Tampa Bay Downs Bans Vet Paraliticci

The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering is investigating Orlando Paraliticci, a private veterinarian who has been ruled off the grounds at Tampa Bay Downs.

Past Winners Part of Packed Tampa Bay Stakes

Roman Tiger and Doubles Partner, the past two winners of the Tampa Bay Stakes (gr. IIIT), are part of a full field entered for the 2013 renewal on turf Feb. 16 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Fund Established for Injured Exercise Rider

The Tampa Bay Downs Division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America has established a fund to assist exercise rider Erasmo Tranquilino, who was critically injured Jan. 18 at the Florida track.

Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in Race-Fixing Case

A Detroit businessman has pleaded guilty to paying a jockey in an attempt to fix horse races at Tampa Bay Downs and Delaware Park in 2005-06.

Old Tune's Record Time in Endeavour Rescinded

Upon further review, the course-record time credited to Old Tune in winning the Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 2 has been rescinded, the track announced the day following the race.

Falling Sky Survives Sam Davis Objection

The sky was the limit Feb. 2 at Tampa Bay Downs, with Falling Sky and Dynamic Sky finishing 1-2 in the $202,500 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III). Falling Sky, a 7-1 upsetter, survived an objection to get the job done.

Old Tune Shows Affinity for New Surroundings

Making her first start outside her native Brazil, Stud TNT's Old Tune showed an affinity for her new surroundings when she won the $150,000 Endeavor Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 2.

Tapicat Makes the Grade in Florida Oaks

The sophomore daughter of Tapit earned her first graded stakes victory and was just a tick off a track record Feb. 2 while rolling home much the best in the $150,000 Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Dynamic Sky Faces Engaging Davis Foes

It's supposed to be Dynamic Sky's race to lose, but he's going to face some 3-year-olds with upside potential in the grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes.

Brown Ships Strong Duo to Tampa for Endeavour

After a solid spring and summer racing season in New York last season, Dealbata will make her 2013 debut in the $150,000 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 2 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Tapicat High Steps into Florida Oaks

After leading at every call in winning her first two career turf starts, Tapicat will try to earn her first black-type Feb. 2 in the Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Joe Rocco Jr. Gets Win No. 1,000

Jockey Joe Rocco Jr. won his 1,000th race Jan. 24 when he took the ninth at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jane Cibelli aboard EBG Racing Stable's Rustler Hustler.

Dynamic Sky Impressive in Pasco Win

Dynamic Sky recovered from a tough trip to win the $100,000 Pasco Stakes over stablemate Sky Commander Jan. 12 at Tampa Bay Downs, giving owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse consecutive scores in the race.

Indiano Turns the Tables in Mr. Prospector

Stud El Aguila's Indiano turned the tables on Action Andy with a strong outside rally to take the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 29.

Calder Dates Filing Reflects Status Quo

In its preliminary filing for racing dates, Calder Casino & Race Course told the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering it plans no change in its racing schedule for the 12 months beginning July 1, 2013.

TVG to Broadcast Tampa Bay Downs Meet

TVG has announced it will air the 91-day meet at Tampa Bay Downs that begins Dec. 1 and continues through May 5.

EHV-1 Impacts Hawthorne Horsemen's Plans

A horse at Hawthorne was euthanized Nov. 26 and a necropsy revealed the horse had EHV-1. It is the fourth horse to die of the disease during the Hawthorne fall meet.

Hurricane Sandy Impacts Northeast Tracks

Initial reports suggest tracks across the Northeast suffered some damage and power outages as a result of Hurricane Sandy, but that damage was moderate compared with the devastation in the area.

Tampa Bay Derby Heads Track's Stakes Roster

For the second meeting in a row, Tampa Bay Downs will run 25 stakes worth $2,595,000.

McLaughlin Promoted at Tampa Bay Downs

Thomas McLaughlin has been promoted to vice president of facilities and track surfaces at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida, it was announced June 4.

Tampa Bay Handle Down

Tampa Bay Downs ended its 86th racing season with a decline in average daily all-sources handle during the 92-day meet that began Dec. 3, 2011, and ended May 6.

Jockey Santos Suffers Broken Leg

Jockey Ademar Santos was taken to a hospital with an apparent broken leg April 29 after his mount in the fifth race at Tampa Bay Downs, Onmyway to Glory, clipped heels and threw him to the turf.

Jockey Scott Spieth Logs 4,000th Career Win

Jockey Scott Spieth notched career victory 4,000 April 6 at Tampa Bay Downs and was immediately surrounded in the winner's circle by his fellow riders.

After the Wire - 3/11/2012

Evan Hammonds recaps the Tampa Bay Derby and San Felipe Stakes from the weekend.

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Brilliant Result for Zagora in Hillsborough

Zagora's great turn of foot delivered a win in the Hillsborough Stakes, just 3/5ths of a second off the Tampa Bay Downs track record for 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

THS: San Felipe Stakes

Jason Shandler and Tom LaMarra handicap the Tampa Bay Derby and San Felipe Stakes.

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Zagora, Denomination Meet in Hillsborough

Grade I winner Zagora, second in last year's Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) to Denomination in a tight finish, will attempt to turn the tables in 2012 when the two mares meet again in the grass event at Tampa Bay Downs.

Spring Hill Farm Steps Up for Tampa Bay Derby

Three of the top four finishers of last month's Sam Davis are back for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), but it's a Todd Pletcher trained horse--go figure--making his stakes debut who will likely be favored.

Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen - 2/6/2012

Steve Haskin adds I'll Have Another to his Derby Dozen. Alpha moves up as Steve notes Mr. Prankster and Battle Hardened. Steve also recaps the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and Withers from the weekend.

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After the Wire - 2/5/2012

Evan Hammonds recaps the Sam F. Davis Stakes, the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and touches on the Withers. Evan also comments on Star Guitar's victory in the Louisiana Premier Night Championship.

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Endeavour: Zagora Sharp in Return

Odds-on favorite Zagora, off for nearly five months, was razor sharp in her return Feb. 4 at Tampa Bay Downs, taking over at the top of the stretch en route to winning the $150,000 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT).

Keertana, Zagora Collide in Endeavour

Keertana, a winner in four of her five starts last year including three in graded ranks, returns from an extended layoff as one of the main contenders in the $150,000 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 4 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Pletcher Sets Sights on Another Sam Davis Win

Already with a slew of top 3-year-olds taking aim at the Triple Crown, Todd Pletcher will send out yet another prospect in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis (gr. III), a race he has won four of the last six years.

Racing, Gaming on Florida Legislative Agenda

The Florida legislature began a two-month session Jan. 10 with a big part of its focus on a gaming bill that could lead to the first all-games casinos in the state along with other changes that would impact racing.

1,000th Win Has Special Meaning for Goncalves

As he signed autographs on his return to the jockeys' room after winning his 1,000th race in the United States at Tampa Bay Downs Dec. 28, Leandro Goncalves' wide smile masked his emotions.

Lentenor Scores At Tampa Bay Downs

Barbaro's full brother Lentenor won an allowance/optional claiming event at Tampa Bay Downs Dec. 23 on the turf for Lael Stables.

Lentenor to Run Dec. 23 at Tampa Bay Downs

Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lentenor, a 4-year-old full brother to Barbaro, is slated to run in the seventh race Dec. 23 at Tampa Bay Downs. He'll face nine in the 1 1/16-mile allowance/optional claimer on the turf.

Tampa Bay to Provide Calder Horse Shuttle

Tampa Bay Downs will provide a free shuttle for horses from Calder Casino & Race Course to Tampa Bay Downs starting Saturday, Dec. 31, and continuing each Saturday through the current meeting.

Tampa Bay Stakes Purses to Increase

Track's stakes schedule offers purse money of about $2.6 million. Seven stakes races are offering increases of $25,000, fueled partially by contributions from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.

Tampa: Improvements, Slightly Lower Takeout

Tampa Bay Downs will open its 2011-12 meet Dec. 3 with lower pari-mutuel takeout rates on some wagers and $1.5 million in capital improvements.