New faces for 2007-2008

courtesy of www.tampabaydowns.com.:

Some new faces gracing Tampa Bay Downs for the first time include trainer Tim Ritchie, who comes to Tampa after finishing the meet at Delaware Park in the summer months. Ritchie, who finished up the Delaware racing season as fourth leading trainer, says of his decision to run at Tampa, “I had some friends who trained here and they were all very positive, so I decided to bring a string down. It’s a great up-and-coming race track, with a wonderful turf course and a safe surface; that’s something that every trainer looks for. I brought 16 horses, and so far they’re training very well; like I said, the surface is very safe and kind, and all of the horses seem happy.”
Tony Wilson will move his string to Tampa Bay Downs for the first time, as will Patrick Byrne, Mike Catalano and Jim McMullen.
Some riders joining the Tampa Bay Downs jockey colony for the first time include Rosemary Homeister, Jr., and past Tampa Bay Downs leading rider Willie Martinez will move his tack back to the Oldsmar oval. Winston Thompson is also scheduled to return for the 82nd season of live racing. Dean Butler will join fellow riders from a fifth-place finish overall at Canterbury Park, and Luis Rivera, Jr. arrives from New Jersey.

Reduced takeout/Pick 6 added for this meet

courtesy of www.tampabaydowns.com:

DOWNS REDUCES TAKEOUTS, ADDS PICK 6 WAGERING
12/5/2007

OLDSMAR, Fla. (December 4, 2007) Tampa Bay Downs is pleased to announce new reduced takeouts from several of our most popular wagers in order to provide patrons with a more pleasant and lucrative wagering experience. “In keeping with Tampa Bay Downs’ pledge to ensure the best Thoroughbred racing and wagering experience for patrons, we’re continuing to offer reduced takeouts on many of our wagers, including a significant reduction of takeout for Pick 4 wagering,” says Tampa Bay Downs Vice President and General Manager Peter Berube. “We have also added Pick 6 wagering to the menu in our bid to continue to supply a consistently competitive racing product, both at Tampa Bay Downs and to the simulcast networks throughout the country.”
The takeout for Pick 4 wagering has been substantially reduced, from 25% to 20%, giving patrons an added incentive to try their hands at exotic wagering; win, place and show wagers has been reduced to 17 ½ from last year’s 18%. Similarly, the Pick 3 takeout has been reduced from 21 ½% to 20%.
In lieu of the Twin Tri, the Oldsmar oval will for the first time offer fans Pick 6 wagering. Patrons will be able to place wagers on the last six races on each day’s card; for example, on a ten-race program, races 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 would be eligible for Pick 6 play. Likewise, Pick Four wagers will be available on the last four races of the day: on a ten-race card, races 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be the designated Pick 4 races.
Tampa Bay Downs will open for live racing on Saturday, December 8, 2007. The Opening Day card will be headlined by the Lightning City Stakes, a test for fillies and mares three years old and upwards travelling about five furlongs on the lawn.

Leading Trainers by wins 2006-2007

Leading Trainers at Tampa Bay Downs
Starting Date: 12/09/2006
Ending Date: 05/06/2007

NAME WIN% ITM%
Jamie Ness 32% 62%
Lynne M. Scace 22% 50%
Gerald S. Bennett 19% 55%
Thomas F. Proctor 35% 61%
Dale Bennett 28% 71%
Kirk Ziadie 28% 65%
Jane Cibelli 22% 53%
Rafael Ramos 19% 47%
Javier Contreras 18% 50%
Michael Zwiesler 41% 68%
Rick Slomkowski 29% 58%
Bernell B. Rhone 14% 44%
Joan Scott 23% 38%