Tampa Greyhound To End Live Racing
Published: Aug 11, 2007
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TAMPA - A little more than a month after opening for its 75th season, officials at Tampa Greyhound Track announced Friday that the facility will cease live racing indefinitely at the conclusion of its Aug. 18 evening performance.
In a news release, Tampa Greyhound general manager Mike Hater said the decision was made in part due to dismal attendance figures. Since July 1, TGT and St. Petersburg's Derby Lane have competed head-to-head for the first time in history, with the latter generating much higher attendance and larger betting pools for its live races.
Hater added that the poker room, which re-opened after a three-year hiatus in conjunction with live racing, will remain open year-round. Simulcasting also will continue to be offered.
"Since opening our card room on July 1, it has become clear that poker is where we need to focus our efforts," Hater said in the release. "Low attendance for greyhound racing and the popularity and growth of poker made this an obvious business decision due to recent legislative changes."
Messages left with the track's marketing department were not immediately returned Friday night.
The track announced in April that it would race year-round, a decision made in large part to re-open the poker room. Under previous legislation, a track had to be racing live to open its card room, but new legislation allows all parimutuel facilities to keep their card rooms open as much as 12 hours a day, seven days a week regardless of live racing.
Hater said that most track employees would be absorbed into other operations at the track. Many of the 12 kennel owners, most new to the Tampa Bay area, will look elsewhere for work, but plans were being made to put some greyhounds up for adoption.
The release said the track will care for all greyhounds housed at its facility until adoptive homes are found.
