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.