Tampa Bay Downs Ready for Summer Festival
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Photo: SV Photography
Tampa Bay Downs is set for two days of summer racing.
Exciting Thoroughbred racing returns to Tampa Bay Downs June 30 and July 1 as horsemen, jockeys, track officials, and area fans celebrate the fourth annual Summer Festival of Racing.
Eight races are scheduled each day, with six on the turf course Thursday and seven on the grass Friday. Action begins at 12:35 p.m. EDT Thursday and 12:28 p.m. Friday.
Tampa Bay Downs will offer all of its customary wagering options, with mandatory payouts both days on the Pick-5 and the Super High-5. The two-day event will be simulcast throughout the Tampa Bay Downs network.
On the track, Tampa Bay Downs will again sponsor the $5,000 Jockeys' Challenge. The first-place jockey at the conclusion of Friday's card earns $2,500, the runner-up receives $1,500, and the third-place finisher collects $1,000.
Ademar Santos, who has won the past two Jockeys' Challenge titles, is expected back from Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania to defend his title. Other jockeys named to ride include Jose Ferrer, Mike Allen, Pedro Monterrey Jr., Brian Theriot, Samy Camacho, and Jorge Calderon.
In each of the 16 races, points are awarded from first through eighth place on an 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. In case of dead heats for any position, the jockeys involved will split the point total (a dead heat for win would be worth 7.5 points to both riders). In case of a tie in total points, the winner will be the jockey with the most victories.
The Summer Festival of Racing was started in 2013 to provide Tampa Bay Downs with status as a year-round meeting, enabling the track to control its simulcasting revenue. Thursday's card marks the official conclusion of the 2015-2016 meeting. Friday's card is the outset of the 2016-2017 meeting.
The stable area will then be empty for about four months before trainers and their horses return for the resumption of the new meeting on Saturday, Nov. 26.