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Tampa Greyhound's future still unknown

The decision to end live racing after tonight's 12-race card stunned track employees and 12 kennels.

By DON JENSEN, Times Correspondent
Published August 18, 2007

TAMPA - The truth had consequences.

When the bottom line showed a lack of support for live racing at Tampa Greyhound Track, those at the top entertained two questions: Do we keep the green light on? Or do we put up the stop sign?

The decision to end live racing after tonight's 12-race card stunned track employees and 12 kennels.

"It's very unfortunate," said Hillary Fellenz, director of marketing. "At this point, no one knows what our (greyhound racing) future holds."

In what was expected to be the first live year-round racing season, Tampa's board of directors decided the meet would conclude as the shortest in the track's 75-year history, 49 days and 56 performances.

Simulcast wagering and poker will remain available seven days a week.

"Since opening our card room on July 1, it has become clear that poker is where we need to focus our efforts," track general manager Mike Hater said in a prepared statement released Aug. 10. "Low attendance for greyhound racing and the popularity and growth of poker made this an obvious business decision due to recent legislative changes."

It has been an emotional and confusing time for the 12 kennels and some track employees, who are working in various departments for additional hours.

Kennels signed a one-year contract to provide greyhounds for the Tampa live-racing season. They traveled from as far as Arizona and spent thousands of dollars. Now they are expected to pursue legal action against the track for breach of contract. And they think they should be running at Derby Lane, with the St. Petersburg track assisting Tampa with its racing dates through Dec. 31. But Derby Lane has a full roster with 21 kennels.

The two tracks have filed applications to the state's Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering to amend their year-round dates already granted for the 2007-08 season. A minimum of 100 live performances in a year is required by the state for a greyhound track to maintain its permit for simulcast rights and poker rooms.

Fellenz said racing secretary Theresa Hughes has obtained bookings at other tracks for nine kennels. Tampa Greyhound will care for all adoptive greyhounds, ensuring they will be spayed or neutered until being placed in homes. The kennels have about 700 dogs combined.

Kennels thought all was going well at Tampa. Points paid $47 (more points are awarded in Grade A than Grade D). Races were being added. Operators were complimentary of track conditions. And everyone expected business to become more brisk beginning in October.

"Tampa's been fair with us up to this point," Grey Thunder Kennel owner Pat Moran said. "But we feel they used us. A lot of us, myself included, just can't afford to lose $30,000 to $50,000."

Kennel owners Dave and April Beeler of Zephyrhills invested more than $30,000 in Beeler Racing Kennel. This is the third career for Dave, a retired 20-year veteran of the St. Petersburg Police Department and former Walgreens manager. April worked as a secretary in the Pasco County school system.

"Nobody came here with only the intention of being here for just one year," Dickinson Farms Kennel trainer Gene Cram said.

And Tampa Greyhound invested heavily. It spent $300,000 to renovate the compound in Thonotosassa and blitzed the area with an aggressive advertising campaign.

"We certainly went into the season with good faith, but it wasn't working out with the greyhounds" Fellenz said. "On the other hand, our card room has shown a consistent 6 to 7 percent growth."

The racing date application period for 2008-09 begins later this year. It is not known what Tampa's plans are. If it decides to try dog racing again, the track may be challenged to attract kennels. Fellenz said she is not aware of the track being for sale.

On July 5, Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club in Longwood was bought by Penn National Gaming, one of the nation's largest gaming companies. It is the track Hughes was employed at before starting the Tampa meet.

"This is like the end of an era," Fellenz said. "I don't think any of us saw this coming."

AROUND THE TRACKS: Dreamy Blossom, sidelined by a medical condition since winning the $120,000 Palm Beach Grand Classic on May 28 at Palm Beach Kennel Club, began schooling this week at Derby Lane. ... Cotton Blossom, winner of the Florida Oaks on March 17 at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, was retired from racing this week with a leg injury. She won the Grade I Acorn Stakes on June 9 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

[Last modified August 18, 2007, 00:00:16]