For Tom McLaughlin, each season at Tampa Bay Downs brings a fresh set of challenges. But dealing with the damage and destruction caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton proved to be his sternest test.
“Just having three weeks to put it all together (after Milton), that was the biggest thing,” said the track’s Vice President of Facilities and Track Surfaces today, a few hours after the first wave of Thoroughbreds arrived at the Stable Gate for the 2024-2025 meet beginning Nov. 20. “The whole barn area was underwater, and more than half the barns had some kind of roof or structural damage, some of it pretty severe.
“Fortunately we had pre-planned for both storms, and our prep work was on point. We were able to get a lot of the supplies we needed from our vendors and get an early jump on getting things done,” said McLaughlin, who utilized two outside contracting crews to complement his 20-employee team and provide an around-the-clock work force for the past 24 days. “We went to work right away pumping out the water, and all the stalls were washed and disinfected. Management gave us everything we needed to get the job done.
“It was a team effort from top to bottom. With the dedication of everybody involved, and the relationships we have with the people we deal with, we were able to get things ready.”
The track will open for training at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. The Oldsmar oval’s 99th anniversary season of racing is just around the corner, and the feeling among early-arriving horsemen is one of gratitude and relief that the track and their livelihoods for the next five-plus months have been spared.
“When I went through the gate this morning and saw (Director of Security) Deanna (Nicol), I just went ‘whew,’ ” said trainer Mauricio Nunez, whose contingent of five runners represented the first horses on the grounds. “For the short amount of time they had, they (the maintenance crew) have done a great job. This is my first time stabling in Barn 9, and it looks tremendous.”
Kathleen O’Connell, last season’s leading Tampa Bay Downs trainer, brought about 20 horses in early today, with more to come. She praised track management for bringing in the additional work crews needed to give horses and their handlers quality spaces in which to live, work and thrive at their passions from Day 1.
“I’m happy that everything is put back together. We’re just all – I think I’m speaking for everybody – we’re all grateful to be back and grateful to Tampa Bay Downs,” said O’Connell, who also trains at Gulfstream Park during the fall and winter months. “I came up here after the first storm to check on my house – I lost some electric stuff, but it was minor – and driving through Oldsmar, I couldn’t believe what I saw.
“It was devastation. Devastation. Everybody’s lives on the curbs. Sofas, mattresses, dressers, pictures, everything. It was gut-wrenching. But it drew a lot of people together, too. When I went through that neighborhood, there were tons of people helping each other.”
Owner-trainer Jim Tsirigotis, Jr., who owns Papa Jim’s Kitchen on the backside with his mother, Terry, was also counting his blessings as he welcomed three of his horses to their new homes. “It could have been worse. We could have been wiped out,” he said. “Between track management and the backside crew, it looks like nothing even happened.
“There aren’t many racetracks that have a backside like this to begin with, so relaxing and comfortable, and getting this place looking the way it is, it’s fabulous. I’ve been coming here since 1987, and they have always taken pride in the way it looks. That’s why I wish this place was open year-round – we wouldn’t have to go anywhere else,” Tsirigotis said.
With the hurricane season now lasting into November, McLaughlin and track management know they need to plan for every possibility to prevent an even bigger storm than Milton from wreaking catastrophe. Had Milton made landfall farther north, both race courses could have been sufficiently damaged to wipe out the meet.
Instead, the show will go on as planned – fingers crossed as necessary.
“I’m just proud to have people who support me and thankful they have faith in me to get things going and get the job done,” McLaughlin said.
