TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Slot Machines OK'd In Miami Good, Bad News For TBD

ADVERTISEMENT

By BART O'CONNELL, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 2, 2008

Updated: 02/01/2008 11:35 pm

OLDSMAR - This week's passage of a measure to allow three parimutuel facilities in Miami-Dade County to install slot machines was both good and bad news for Tampa Bay Downs general manager Peter Berube.

On one hand, the surprisingly large 63 percent of voters who backed the measure showed that expanding slot machine gaming statewide may be closer to happening than ever before. Berube and TBD have been in favor of expansion in recent years.

On the other hand, unless TBD ultimately gets its own legislative OK to offer slots, Florida's other two thoroughbred tracks - Gulfstream Park and Miami-Dade's Calder - will continue to have higher purse sizes, and in turn attract higher quality horses, with the added revenue.

"I think anytime we have a competitor that has a product we're not able to offer, it puts you at a distinct disadvantage," Berube said. "And it has the potential to become more burdensome in the future if we don't get a level playing field up here."
Berube is optimistic some progress will be made to even that playing field within the next year, in part because of the state's budget needs. This week, an electronic gaming machines bill (SB 1380) was introduced by Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, and co-introduced by Sen. Jim King Jr., R-Jacksonville. It would allow any licensed parimutuel facility statewide to operate Class II electronic gaming, or video lottery, machines.

STAKES SATURDAY: Today's featured race at TBD, the seven-furlong $65,000 Manatee Stakes for older fillies and mares on the dirt, features an 11-horse field that closely resembles the Minaret Stakes run last month.

Minaret winner Taylor Madison, trained and part-owned by Michael Dini and to be ridden by Carlos Montalvo, is the early favorite at 3-1. But the William Mott-trained Meredith Bee is the second-choice at 4-1, and was closing fast in the 6-furlong Minaret before finishing fourth.

Minaret runner-up Twiceasbeautiful also is entered, as is Rockaway Beach, the third-place finisher. Of those entered that weren't in the Minaret, the Canadian-bred Silk Candy, owned by horse racing mogul Frank Stronach, is among the top contenders having won its past two starts, most recently at Gulfstream.

Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT