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Derby Lane president Vey Weaver to retire

 
Published May 28, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — Vey Weaver, whose family has been the sole owner of Derby Lane for 90 years, is retiring today as the greyhound track's president.

The announcement will take place at a board of directors meeting.

Weaver, 60, became Derby Lane's seventh president in 2003 when his late father, Art, retired after 23 years, the longest presidential tenure in track history. Vey Weaver will retain a position on the track board.

The Gandy Boulevard facility is expected to maintain its bloodlines, with Richard Winning replacing Weaver, his cousin, as president and chairman of the board, pending board approval. Winning is the track's senior vice president.

"(Vey's) realm as president was outstanding," Derby Lane vice president David Tiano said. "We wish Vey the very best in retirement."

Weaver, a St. Petersburg native and a USF graduate, plans to travel and spend more time at a Georgia home he shares with his wife, Karen. They also have a residence in Tampa. He was not available for comment.

Weaver was inducted into the Greyhound Hall of Fame in 2014 at Abilene, Kan. He is one of eight family members in the Hall, a list that includes his father; great-grandfather and track founder T.L. Weaver; A.D. Weaver; A.V. (Tubby) Weaver; Otto Weaver; John Brooks; and Joyce Brooks.

One of Weaver's notable accomplishments includes the Derby Lane Million, an event that lured many of the sport's best greyhounds to St. Petersburg in 2006-07 in a quest for a $500,000 first-place prize.