One of the most successful meets in recent history at Tampa Bay Downs almost never got off the ground.
Severe damage last fall from Hurricanes Helene and Milton threatened to postpone the scheduled Nov. 20 opening. Had Milton first made landfall farther north, the entire 2024-25 meet could have been wiped out.
As it has so many times since opening in 1926, Tampa Bay Downs rebounded from the challenges presented by the storms’ devastation with renewed purpose.
The track posted gains in all major categories, capping a memorable campaign last weekend with its simulcast of the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday and a festive Fan Appreciation Day celebration Sunday.
A crowd of 11,530, the third-largest in track history, attended Saturday’s 10-race program, then watched Sovereignty upset Journalism in the Run for the Roses. On Sunday, Gift Shop personnel remained on duty an hour after the final race, as patrons took advantage of 50-percent discounts on all merchandise.
That dedication to serving the public, according to Vice President & General Manager Peter Berube, is a prime factor in the track’s ongoing ability to stand out in a crowded sports and gaming market.
“It took a whole lot of people pulling together for us to start the meet as scheduled, let alone post increases over the previous season,” Berube said. “Frankly, I’m as proud as I can be of our management team, the Racing Office and our horsemen for making it happen.”
Total commingled handle of $377,972,374 on the live racing product for the 90-day meet translated to a daily average of $4,199,693, an increase of 4.56 percent from 2023-24. Handle from out-of-state sources on the Oldsmar oval’s 821 races rose to $347,327,539, up 4.87 percent from the previous season.
On-track wagering on Tampa Bay Downs races increased by 0.53 percent and intrastate off-track wagering rose by 1.86 percent. Attendance climbed to 255,147, up 4.3 percent from a year ago.
Once the meet began, Tampa Bay Downs enjoyed mostly good weather, although January was a bit colder and wetter than normal. As a result, the track was able to card 267 turf races, nearly a third of its total and 19 more than 2023-24.
That contributed to an average of 8.37 starters per race, an increase of 1.36 percent. “When most tracks are struggling to offer full fields to bettors, any increase is a positive sign,” Berube said. “Credit goes to our Racing Secretary, Allison De Luca, and her crew for putting together a schedule our horsemen embraced and to the owners and trainers for presenting a quality product.”
Total purse money paid was $22,238,425, a daily average of $247,094, representing a 0.27-percent increase.
As Tampa Bay Downs makes plans for its 100th anniversary season, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Nov. 19, Berube is optimistic the track can build on this season’s accomplishments, especially if the area avoids a major hurricane between now and then.
“It’s impossible to quantify the economic impact of storms of that magnitude, which can make sporting events seem unimportant,” Berube said. “We’d certainly like to think that by offering quality Thoroughbred racing, we helped lift the spirits of those who were affected.”
