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History<br />
1978 - The Florida Senate squashes a proposal to convert summer<br />
Quarter Horse racing dates to Greyhound racing.<br />
1979 - An average attendance record of 4,414 is established.<br />
1980 - Total handle reaches $29 million. Sam F. Davis retires as<br />
President at age 73. In a switch of corporations, the track is<br />
renamed Tampa Bay Downs. On March 15, Richard DePass<br />
becomes the first jockey in history to go 7-for-7 on a single card.<br />
1981 - Paristo wins the inaugural running of the $50,000-added<br />
Budweiser Tampa Bay Derby. He would go on to finish third<br />
in the Preakness Apprentice jockey. Julie Krone earns her first<br />
career victory aboard Lord Farkle on Feb. 12 for trainer Les<br />
St. Leon, and subsequently becomes the most successful<br />
female jockey in history with 3,704 victories and a member of<br />
the sport’s Hall of Fame.<br />
1982 - Trainer E.T. Clark wins with nine consecutive starters. After his<br />
next entrant finishes third, his next two starters win.<br />
1983 - Arabian-bred racing is introduced, making Tampa Bay Downs<br />
the first track to hold a regular program for the breed.<br />
Morganmorganmorgan wins the Budweiser Tampa Bay<br />
1984 - The track adds a seven-furlong chute. In a huge upset, 88-1<br />
shot Bold Southerner edges Rexson’s Hope in the Tampa Bay<br />
Derby under jockey Wayne Crews.<br />
1986 - A new dirt track is installed prior to the start of the 1985-1986<br />
meeting at a cost of $250,000. The old base and cushion are<br />
replaced and the track is crowned and banked to provide better<br />
drainage and give horses a safer racing surface. Bob Clark is<br />
named Racing Secretary, replacing Warren Wolf. Hall of Fame<br />
jockey Bill Hartack, who rode here briefly as an apprentice when<br />
the track was known as Sunshine Park, is named as a<br />
steward. My Prince Charming, owned by the Aronow Stable<br />
operation of speedboat racer Don Aronow, wins the Tampa Bay<br />
Derby.<br />
1987 - Stella F. Thayer and her brother, Howell Ferguson, take full<br />
control of Tampa Bay Downs with a $<strong>16</strong>.2-million bid a month<br />
before the start of the meeting. Tampa Bay Downs controller<br />
Lorraine M. King is named General Manager, completing what<br />
is believed to be the first instance of a wagering facility with<br />
separate female ownership and management. Mike Manganello,<br />
who won the 1970 Kentucky Derby on Dust Commander and<br />
won seven Tampa Bay Downs jockey titles, rides career winner<br />
No. 2,500 on Siberian Gold. The first Sunday card in the history<br />
of Tampa Bay Downs is conducted on Dec. 7, 1986, drawing a<br />
crowd of 5,893. Ronnie Allen, Jr., wins the second of his<br />
four track riding crowns with 76 victories. Phantom Jet, trained<br />
by Phil Gleaves, becomes the first horse to win the Sam<br />
F. Davis Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby.<br />
1985 - Regal Remark wins the Tampa Bay Derby for owner Ernie<br />
Samuel’s Canadian-based Sam-Son Farm, winner of seven<br />
Sovereign Awards as Canada’s leading breeder. Richard<br />
Grunder joins Tampa Bay Downs as track announcer. Mary<br />
Hodge wins the training title by sending out 23 winners.<br />
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