OPTIONS TO BET ON KENTUCKY DERBY AVAILABLE STARTING FRIDAY

By Mike Henry —-

OLDSMAR, FL. – Tampa Bay Downs will place two self-service wagering terminals outside the main entrance to the racetrack Saturday for patrons unable to attend the Kentucky Derby Day card.

Attendance for Saturday’s Tampa Bay Downs racing program, which will be followed by the simulcast of the 147th Run from the Roses from Churchill Downs, has been capped at 3,500 due to COVID-19 restrictions. A handful of General Admission tickets were still available inside the General Office at the conclusion of today’s racing.

The self-service terminals will be open for betting at 10 a.m. on Saturday to allow patrons to wager on all the Churchill Downs races, which begin at 10:30 a.m. Attendants will be available to assist customers unfamiliar with using the machines.

“Demand for tickets has been strong, and we want to accommodate all the horse racing fans in the area looking to bet on the world’s greatest horse race,” said the track’s Vice President-General Manager, Peter Berube. “As we do every year, we will also offer ‘advance-day’ wagering on the Kentucky Derby on Friday, but the outdoor terminals offer another option for anyone whose Saturday is free to get in on the action.

“We encourage everyone who takes advantage of this option to be patient in line, since the Derby post time is 6:57 p.m.,” Berube added.

Friday’s action, which does not require a ticket, includes a full card of nine races at Tampa Bay Downs and the simulcast of the Longines Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies from Churchill Downs.

Around the oval. Samy Camacho took another step toward capturing his second Tampa Bay Downs jockeys title in three seasons, riding two winners to extend his lead in the standings to 102-97 from Antonio Gallardo.

Camacho is trying to keep Gallardo from a sixth Oldsmar crown, which would move him into a tie with Mike Manganello and Daniel Centeno for the most in track history.

Camacho won today’s second race on maiden 3-year-old Florida-bred filly Naval Wave, owned by Endsley Oaks Farm and trained by Rafael Schistl. Camacho added the fourth race on the turf with Striking Chrome, a 3-year-old filly owned by Mr Pug, J.P.G. 2, C. Gregge Dasher and Winning Stables and trained by Gerald Bennett.

Gallardo won the eighth race on the turf on Lion Charmer, a 5-year-old horse owned by Bruce McCrae and Dennis M. Bush and trained by Robert R. O’Connor, II.

Pablo Morales made a winning return to Tampa Bay Downs after spending the winter at Aqueduct in New York, where he finished ninth in the standings with 24 victories. Morales posted a victory and a second from two long-shot mounts, winning the ninth and final race on the turf aboard 10-1 shot Lady Jean, a 4-year-old Florida-bred filly owned and trained by Victor Carrasco, Jr.

Thoroughbred racing at Tampa Bay Downs continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:15 p.m. Sunday is “Fan Appreciation Day,” with free Grandstand admission and parking and beers, sodas and Nathan’s Hot Dogs on sale at discounted prices.

There will be a video tribute between races Sunday to honor track announcer Richard Grunder, who is retiring at the end of Sunday’s card after 37 years at the Tampa Bay Downs microphone.

The ninth annual Summer Festival of Racing will be conducted June 30 and July 1. Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.