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Local tracks maintain stable schedules

 
Published March 22, 2014

OLDSMAR — If it's not broke, don't fix it.

That is the philosophy Tampa Bay Downs, Derby Lane and Tampa Greyhound Track have stuck with towards their racing dates for next season.

Schedules for the 2014-15 fiscal year that begins July 1 were released this week by the state's regulatory agency for parimutuel wagering.

Tampa Bay Downs, the thoroughbred track in Oldsmar, is scheduled to hold another 91-day meet, including a Summer Festival of Racing on June 30-July 1 for the second straight year.

The current schedule concludes June 30, with the Downs' 89th season kicking off July 1. Live racing will take a hiatus until Nov. 29, when the majority of the performances will run through May 3. Another break follows before the final day of live racing on June 30, 2015.

The unique schedule allows the Downs to be classified as a year-round, live horse racing facility. That makes Oldsmar a host track, allowing it to purchase simulcast signals from other host sites, sell them to various state parimutuel sites (known as guest tracks) and retain all revenue.

In past seasons, the Downs had to give Calder Race Course an undisclosed portion of simulcast money since the Miami Gardens site was the host track in the summer and fall.

The move has been a financial boon to the Downs, which raised purses 15 percent this year.

State spokeswoman Tajiana Ancora-Brown stated in an e-mail, "This (host track) issue is the subject of current litigation. The Division has entered into rule development regarding this issue."

It is believed Churchill Downs, the parent company of Calder, is the complainant. The Downs declined to comment.

Racing dates at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg and Tampa Greyhound remain nearly the same. Both tracks were granted six month racing permits with all live action at Derby Lane.

Tampa will hold 209 performances (up one from this year) from July 1-Dec. 31. Derby Lane again will have 207 performances from Jan. 1-June 30. Both tracks will run eight performances with doubleheaders on Wednesday and Saturday. Tampa will have Monday matinees in December, and Derby Lane will do likewise from January to May. There will be no racing on Sunday.

The Tampa meet has been at Derby Lane since ending live racing in 2007 in order to offer poker and simulcast wagering.

"Most all the greyhound people should be satisfied with racing the same amount of days that we always have," Tampa Bay Greyhound Association president Cal Holland said.

HORSES: The $60,000 Challenger Stakes (Race 8, 3:50 p.m.) heads today's card at the Downs.