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Million Could Return In The Future

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By BART O'CONNELL Tribune correspondent

Published: January 5, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Though this week's cancellation of the Derby Lane Million appeared to be the end of what had been the richest greyhound race in the world, track officials are keeping their options open for future years.
Derby Lane Chief Operating Officer David Tiano said "the book's not closed" on bringing the race series, which paid $500,000 to the winner, back as early as next year. The track plans to meet with greyhound owners to gauge interest in resuming the event. Until that happens, the future of the race is unclear.

The track is committed to running the race during its winter season and likely wouldn't announce its return unless it secured enough entries in advance.
Tiano said he received verbal confirmation from about 70 entries this year, but many dropped out before posting the $10,000 entry fee when they discovered how difficult the field would be.

"There were a lot of reasons," Tiano said. "You can call it the economy, some dog owners didn't want to race other dogs, and some who had planned to come thought the competition was too stiff and they didn't have a chance."
Derby Lane was planning for 80 entries, with an additional $200,000 to be added to the prize pool by the track. President Vey Weaver later announced that the race would run with a minimum of 64 entries. By New Year's Eve, the number of paid entries still was short, and the cancellation was made official.

The two Derby Lane Million races drew large crowds and a lot of interest throughout the greyhound racing world. But the race was very much in its infancy from a financial standpoint.

"We put a lot of money into the purses for the good of the industry," Tiano said. "But I wouldn't describe the races as financially successful for Derby Lane."

STAKES SATURDAY: Tampa Bay Downs' featured race today, the $65,000 Minaret Stakes for fillies and mares 4 years or older (Race 8, six furlongs), features several past TBD runners, including Bucky's Prayer, the Lightning City Stakes winner in May who finished second in her attempt to defend the title on Opening Day. She will be starting on the dirt for the second time since Aug. 2006. ... The 7-2 morning-line favorite is the Michael Dini-trained Taylor Madison, coming off an allowance win at TBD on Dec. 15.

WAR PASS-ING THROUGH?: In a Daily Racing Form story this week, trainer Nick Zito said under ideal circumstances, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner War Pass would enter March's Tampa Bay Derby as its second-to-last Kentucky Derby prep. Another story in the Palm Beach Post said Zito was planning to prep War Pass at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach next month and possibly wait until April's Wood Memorial in New York to race after that.

AROUND THE TRACKS: Eight-time Tampa Bay Downs leading trainer Don Rice was hospitalized on Thursday after suffering a horse-related injury on his Antigo Ranch Farm in Anthony, north of Ocala. Published reports said Rice originally was listed in critical condition at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The 72-year-old had one win at TBD last meet and has had no entries this meet. ... Jockey Luis Antonio Gonzalez finished 37th in the 2007 North American jockey's standings with 194 wins. Daniel Centeno was tied for 57th (168). ... Derby Lane will have a soft opening for its renovated Derby Club on Tuesday. The official grand reopening will be Thursday.

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at

boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.

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