Tampa Bay Downs 1-23

[LongshotLarry]

How many of you bet Tampa Bay downs today?? Did you know the handle, today, for all sources was 3.5 million? Purses are not going up, and the racing secretary loves writing races known as beaten claimers!! Almost every handicapper I know loves full fields but we are really getting tired of the crap that TBD is putting out. They love putting out cheap maiden and beaten claiming fields because they are easy to fill-the racing secretary doesnt have to hustle owners and trainers to enter!! Solution, raise the purses for mid and higher claiming races, for all allowance races by 25% and raise the purses for MSW-to 25k.. This is only a modest raise condering the handle that TBD takes in, day in and day out..I guarantee that more horses from South Florida will come and more trainers who have their good horses stabled at TBD will enter. The handle will increase because bettors love betting full fields of quality horses and the handle will more than make up for the increase in purses, are you listening TBD?? Now this may sound like sour grapes by someone who is losing, but rest assured, I am having a fantastic meet so far-have had several signers, including a 10k trifecta and a 15k pick four! Another gripe for the racing secretary, my colleagues and fellow horsemen are tired of seeing the same old distances. Why not write a 5 or a 5 and 1/2 furlong race on the dirt once in a while?? You have written only one 6 1/2 furlong race and that was last Saturday to accomodate a stakes horse that was being entered.... TBD, you have the chance to become a major player, just a few changes are needed!!

[ronwins]

{snip} Did you know the handle, today, for all sources was 3.5 million? {snip} I guarantee that more horses from South Florida will come (snip} Now this may sound like sour grapes by someone who is losing, but rest assured, I am having a fantastic meet so far-have had several signers, including a 10k trifecta and a 15k pick four! {snip}

LongshotLarry,

first off I'm just giving IMO, & not flaming you at all:)

I didn't see what the on track handle was? (for all sources was 3.5 million?)(but i'd bet it wasn't in the 500,000 range?)

that said...as far as so.fla. horses coming to Tampa in jan/feb,
forget-it...first you have to get the snow birds to vacation in Tampa.
...look i know some do!

now you say your having a VERY GOOD meet?
...why oh why would you rock the boat?

[LongshotLarry]

Ronwins, I am not rocking the boat, just concerned about the horses being entered. Steve will verify my successes at the track so this is not sour grapes. TBD treats the horsemen like second-class citizens and often raise purses later in the meet to keep them here a little longer. I have been coming here since 1976 so I know this oval very well.

LL

[ronwins]

Ronwins, I am not rocking the boat, just concerned about the horses being entered. Steve will verify my successes at the track so this is not sour grapes. TBD treats the horsemen like second-class citizens and often raise purses later in the meet to keep them here a little longer. I have been coming here since 1976 so I know this oval very well.

LL

Okay...
...but, whats more important then winning money at the track,
as a horseplayer talking...(me),

if your talking about the HORSEMEN at the backstretch,
I'm all for all who work the backstretch to make more money when the track is making the money...

...sour grapes, I'm sorry you misunderstand my replay to your first post!

[LongshotLarry]

RW, no I didn't misunderstand you, but I am concerned about making money at the track. Cheap races especially maiden filly and mares are very tough to handicap and often a waste of time!! Better horses as we all know = better races to bet, much more dependable. You are right, the backside is not reaping the benefits from the frontside, the owner of the track would rather tear it down and build condos than to give in to the horsemen. Too bad Steinbrenner didn't own it any more, it would have been world class today!!

[mop38]

Congrads on your "signers". Keep them coming.

It takes something I am weak at to place a longshot on top of tri and pick 3 or pick 4 tickets.

I like what you said about making condos on racetracks.

That's been going on for a century now, only getting hotter.

I know when I owned a horse that it was very difficult to get the race I needed to suit my horse's running style.

Purses still don't approximate what it takes to keep a horse in training.

Good luck.