OLDSMAR, Fla. (November 13, 2009) The Tampa Bay Downs backstretch opened this morning, heralding the start of the Oldsmar oval’s 84th season of Thoroughbred racing. Trainer Ernie Mello was the first conditioner to arrive for the Tampa Bay Downs 2009-2010 season after the conclusion of the Hoosier Park meet.
Robert Jeffries, President of the Tampa Bay Downs National Horsemen’s Benevolence & Protective Association, was once again one of the first trainers to send his horses to the Oldsmar oval. Jeffries’s son Scott and wife Pat were on hand to escort the Pitchnicholas into his favorite stall, # 50 in Barn 22.
Scott and Pat Jeffries unload Pitchnicholas
Photo by Penelope P. Miller
The gray colt has shown a great affinity for the Tampa Bay Downs racetrack, and will be making his first start back this winter after a summer vacation. Scott Jeffries says of Pitchnicholas, “He won his first two races here last year. We’re hoping his summer vacation will move him up like last year. He’s a fan of this track – I think his last four or five wins were here. It’s good to be back, and we’re looking forward to another season here.”
Other returning trainers such Peter Wasiluk and John Pimental also came in this morning, and were busy setting up their stables in anticipation of their trainees’ arrivals. Wasiluk shipped his horses from Delaware Park, while Pimental arrived from Boston’s Suffolk Downs.
Workers from the Gerald Bennett barn unload supplies in preparation to welcome horses into Barn 12A.
Photo by Penelope P. Miller
Gerald Bennett, who achieved his 3,000th career victory this summer, also sent his horses to Tampa Bay Downs this morning; while the trainer is still in Cleveland preparing the rest of his string for the move to Oldsmar, his assistant Tom Taylor was on hand to ensure that each horse was comfortable in their winter home on the Tampa Bay Downs backstretch.
Tom Taylor escorts stakes winner Perf from the Brookledge van that carried her to Tampa Bay Downs
Photo by Penelope P. Miller
One of the first horses off of Gerald Bennett’s van was Perf, a three-year-old Burning Roma filly who romped in Mountaineer’s $75,000 Autumn Love Stakes on October 20, 2009. “Hopefully, she’ll run well here,” said Taylor. “She’s a nice filly, she very rarely off the board, and we hope for good things from her.” Taylor went on to say that he’s happy to be back in Tampa for the winter months. “It’s good – very good – to be back here. It’s always nice to get back to the sunshine!”
Training over the main track begins Friday, November 20, and the first day of the live racing season is December 12, 2009; the meet will continue with 91 days of live action through May 1, 2010. Tampa Bay Downs’s daily purse structure mirrors that of last season, and the stakes schedule includes a $10,000 increase all ungraded two- and three-year-old stakes. Tampa Bay Downs Vice President and General Manager Peter Berube says of the upcoming meet, “We look forward to another great year at Tampa Bay Downs, and I’m confident that our consistent purse structure, graduated stakes program and competitive turf races will contribute to a memorable season.”
Opening Day’s festivities will include the track’s annual Breakfast at the Downs from 8:00 AM through 10:00 AM. The morning includes a full hot breakfast buffet, Grandstand admission as well as a handicapping guide given away with paid admission to the breakfast. Jockeys and trainers will be on hand throughout the breakfast to talk to fans and share stories. Opening Day also features the $65,000 Lightning City Stakes, a 5 furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares three years old and upward.