Tampa Bay Times Still Ignoring Racing
Tuesday, November 29, 2016

    This is what appeared in the Sunday sports section of the Tampa Bay Times concerning horse racing: "Connect beat Divining Rod by a head at the end of a stretch duel in the $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. The time was 1:35.34 in the final Grade I stakes of the year in New York. Connect earned $300,000 for the win, lifting his career earnings to $1.25 million for owner Paul Pompa."

   It wouldn't be so pathetic if not for the fact that Saturday was opening day of the Tampa Bay Downs meeting. This is certainly not the first time I've lambasted the Times for its horrendous coverage, while at the same time Don Jensen taking reams of space to inform the public about a dog at Derby Lane, or an owner, or a race. The Saturday matinee at Derby Lane drew a crowd of 1,344 and the all-sources handle was $204,981. Attendance for the Tampa Bay Downs opening was 4,010 and the all-sources handle was $3,578,062, without benefit of a stakes race.

    I guess that's the Times' editors thinking: if there's no stakes race at Tampa, there's no need for coverage, even though it marked the first day of what promises to be a bang-up meeting. On Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby day, and Sam F. Davis day, and Florida Cup day, to name a few, they draw more people and handle more money than Derby Lane does in a month. 

    Since the last meeting in Oldsmar, the one that ended in May, the Times merged with the Tampa Tribune and I wrongfully guessed that it might make a difference in the racing coverage. Apparently not. We'll see if anything changes, but I'm not hopeful.

    GULFSTREAM ON DECK - The Championship meeting at Gulfstream Park opens Saturday and it, too, promises to be a blockbuster. Anxiety has been building for months for the $12 million Pegasus at the end of January, and the prospect of seeing California Chrome's swan song is certain to bring out the players in droves. The smart phones will be clicking from the time he walks over from the barn area until he makes tracks the other way when it's over. There won't be an empty space at the walking ring prior to the race and they will be five or six deep. 

    The final weekend at Gulfstream West has passed with a handle of $4,629,931 on Saturday and $3,768,897 on Sunday. Just in time, too, because a great deal of turf racing really tore up the course and the huge clouds of dust that ensued made it difficult to appreciate the racing.

    It may just be wishful thinking but I am still hopeful that Gulfstream will give up the two months at ye olde Calder and let John Brunetti have a boutique meeting at Hialeah. Of course, I'm not privy to the particulars and it may be that there are roadblocks to the idea that only the principals know about.  

    

 

  

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