TBD Stakes schedule link:

http://www.tampadowns.com/Racing/tbdstakesschedule.pdf

I'll be there.

25 days and counting...

you are worse than any woman tease I have ever met....:eek:

Tampa Bay, Philly Park, and Illinois racing at Arl and Thorne are three venues that I just can't play. I just can't win at any of those venues and can never get the feel for them. I've tried, but the races just don't make sense to me at those venues.

I can hardly wait! :D

The local paper here (St.Pete Times) never plays up opening day. I think they'd get more of a turn out if they reminded all the cotton tops that there is a track 20 minutes away.

at least 1...if not 2 trips to Tampa this winter for me

Well, you know you've got a place to stay. :)

Hell no....Darcie scares me:(

That is hilarious... she's more girly-girl than any chick I know. She talks some mad game, though... gotta give her props on that. :D

FG
 

Has anyone got a report on the condition of the track? It has always been considered a very kind dirt surface. The turf , the last couple of years [before the flood] has been a lot of green paint.

funny enough, that's how i feel about all dirt racing in New York. I've tried so many times to try to follow it enough to understand it -- but I just can't make sense of it. The only races that make sense in advance to me are the ones with 2/5 shots, and then what's the point in playing that?

On the flipside, Arlington and Hawthorne are two of the tracks that make perfect sense to me, though Hawthorne can be a bit trickier and unpredictable based on the horses' current form.

Weird how that works -- I can't play California tracks either. I can only really do well in the Midwest and Florida -- FG, AP, HAW, KEE, CD etc

Arlington is easy, just have to stay away from mdn claim 10k and Claim 4-5k-7500 and you can make money. Those named races are what nip people. I know a sharp as Arlington that doesn't even show up until the 4th race to make sure he doesn't bet the REAL cheap crap early, he doesn't mind the less cheap races later in the card

as far as Thorne, it is the biggest mistake to this beautiful earth. Not only does the track suck, the area sucks, the surface is bootleg. THE ONLY races that are worth playing there are the allowance dirt races and turf races, otherwise, too many games being played. Double D doesn't accept that crap at Arlington

Gulf Seats
 

Supposedely They Have Added 500 Outdoor Grandstand Seats At Gulfstream. But Other Than That I Agree. They Are Setting Place Up For The Slot Player Not The Horse Player Unfortunately

Gee,
I'm not a Florida guy in the winter. Its easier for me to work up here and I have family responsibilities as well, so I gut it out up here in the cold and snow. The way the place is set up doesn't affect me one iota but my friends who do go have voiced the same thing you just did.
My biggest gripe is the most moronic move in the history of racing, which was for Gulf to eliminate 1 1/16th mile racing. They should be shot and tortured first.
Its supposed to be a mecca of three year old racing and development and your only two turn option as a horseman is to go a mile and an eighth. Its beyond moronic. What worse is the incredible bias against outside posts even in the mile and an eighth races.
It just seems as if noone who designed the new place had any common sense whatsoever, and I'd have to say that perhaps slots were the only thing they had in mind.

The horsemen recognized that last year and the Tampa (1 1/16th) 3yr old allowances and stakes suddenly got a lot tougher.

I'm with you when it comes to those venues but I think I'm going to play Tampa this year. Seems like a lot of people love to handicap that track so I'm giving it a shot this year. Full fields and warm weather. All tips concerning Tampa are welcome.

FSD....just follow the Terror of Tampa's threads starting the 2nd week of December....TONS of cash to be made...especially on the grass.

T3B:cool:

Derek,
I like a horse in the Pelican Stakes there on Jan 13. Above the Wind. As long as this horse can breathe, he should win this race.