Kathleen O’Connell and Jamie Ness tied atop the trainer standings with 51 victories apiece as the 2009-10 Tampa Bay Downs season came to a close May 2.
Others taking top honors at the conclusion of the 84th season of live racing at the Oldsmar, Fla., track, were Daniel Centeno, Kristina McManigell, Midwest Thoroughbreds and the mare Party of Eight.
O’Connell, who won Tampa's trainer’s title in the 1998-1999, was the leading conditioner at Calder Casino and Racetrack coming into the meet. Ness earned his first training title in the 2006-07 campaign and has matched it each year since. This year, the South Dakota native saddled 51 winners from 143 starters this year with purse earnings approaching $700,000.
Centeno, who has captured the Tampa Bay Downs jockey title four years in a row, had 133 victories this season, closing out the meet with three wins on the final day. Centeno is headed to Monmouth Park next.
McManigell was the leading apprentice rider. She broke her maiden on Jan. 7, the first of 13 wins on the season.
Midwest Thoroughbreds, with a Tampa Bay single-season record 43 wins, accepted the trophy for leading owner for this season.
Party of Eight was the meet's winningest horse with victories in six starts. The 9-year-old Evansville Slew mare is under the care of trainer David Hinsley for owner Arbywood Stable. She was bred in Kentucky by Mike and Judy Crowe.
