Bucking many national trends, Tampa Bay Downs concluded its 94-day season Sunday with increases in major business categories of wagering, attendance, and purses.The Florida track reported live on-track handle increased 3.3% to total $28,249,856, the highest figure since 1994. Average daily live on-track handle increased 2.2% from $293,959 to $300,530, the largest since 1995.Total live all-source handle also rose 8.9% to a record $320,381,480.The track reported that total attendance of 330,248 represented a 1.6% gain and was the highest since 1995. Average daily attendance rose slightly to 3,513.Records were set for purses paid of $13,626,909 and average daily purses paid ($144,967)."Once again we were able to increase our numbers in every statistical category," said Tampa Bay Downs vice president and general manager, Peter Berube. "Our fans both locally and nationally continue to embrace our improving product evidence by the daily average handle of 3.4 million.
Don Rice won his eighth Tampa training title and Jesus Castanon was the track's leading rider for the second consecutive year. Michael Buccina was the track's leading owner.
