Peter Berube

Tampa Bay Downs posted significant gains in most major categories during the 2021-2022 season when compared to the 2018-2019 (pre-pandemic) meet--including average daily all-sources wagering handle and total purse money paid to horsemen. "Our Thoroughbred racing product has been very well-received, both by Tampa Bay area fans and the simulcast market throughout the country," said Peter Berube, the track's vice president and general manager, who attributed the increases in large part to the ongoing upgrade in the quality of racing and the attractiveness of the turf program. "The Lambholm South...

Wagering on Saturday's Festival Day 42 card at Tampa Bay Downs shattered the previous single-day track record by more than $5.5 million. The total handle of $20,778,222 was a 36% increase from last season's Festival Day/Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby program. The on-track crowd of 5,381 wagered $751,667. The $3,686,488 wagered on the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby is also an all-time Tampa Bay Downs record. "We are gratified by the tremendous support from our Tampa Bay area fans, our horsemen and bettors across the country," said Peter Berube, the...

Tampa Bay Downs will increase purses 6% for the second time this meet, effective Friday. All overnight races will now be worth an additional $1,000. The first increase, which took effect Feb. 10, also raised purse money by $1,000 a race. The increases come in the wake of the four overnight purse increases at the track's 2020-2021 meet. "Several factors have contributed to our ability to raise purse money again for our horsemen," said Peter Berube, the track's vice president and general manager. "First and foremost is the quality product...

Beginning with Wednesday's card, Tampa Bay Downs will increase purses by 10% due to continued gains in simulcast revenue. It marks the fourth time purses have been upped during the 2020-21 meeting, which opened Nov. 25 and will continue to May 2, with previous boosts occurring Dec. 16, Feb. 3, and Feb. 20. "The latest increase is a tribute to our horsemen who strive to deliver a quality product, the racing office for its efforts to provide competitive racing with full fields, and fans around the country who continue to...

Tampa Bay Downs has pushed back its pair of $100,000 five-furlong turf sprints, the Turf Dash S. for older males and Lightning City S. for fillies and mares, from next Saturday to Sunday, Feb. 21. The pair of events are the centerpieces of the track's annual Turf Sprint Showcase Day. "The turf course has taken in excess of two inches of rain the last two days, with more rain forecast during the week," Tampa Bay Downs Vice President-General Manager Peter Berube said. "By switching the races to Sunday now, horsemen...

Tampa Bay Downs will increase purses for all non-stakes purses by approximately 10% beginning Dec. 16. The increase will be $1,500 for maiden special weight and allowance races and $1,000 for claiming and starter races. "Thanks to the efforts of former [Tampa Bay Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association] President Bob Jeffries and the approval of their board, we were able to build a substantial cushion in the purse account before the current meeting," Tampa Vice President and General Manager Peter Berube said. "Our export [simulcast] business has been strong since...

Officials at Tampa Bay Downs are seeking approval from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to continue hold live racing into the month of June, a total of eight dates on Mondays and Wednesdays, in an effort to "bolster horsemen uncertain of their next step," according to a release from the track. Tampa Bay Downs is currently racing each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through May 30. The meeting ends June 30, which is also the first day of the track's 'Summer Festival of Racing.' The program on July...

A plan is in the works to extend the race meet at Tampa Bay Downs beyond its scheduled May 3 closing, but a track official deferred comment on specifics while the request is pending at the state level. The Tampa overnight for the Apr. 24 races (drawn on Apr. 19), led with the notice "Attention Horsemen: We are seriously considering extending the meet," but no additional details were disclosed. When reached via phone on Tuesday, Peter Berube, Tampa's vice president and general manager, said, "I'm really not going to comment...

The Florida Cup, a series of six $110,000 stakes races for registered Florida-breds and Tampa Bay Downs's annual showcase for the state's Thoroughbred breeding and racing industries, has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. The event, which was first run in 2003, had been scheduled for Sunday, March 29. Peter Berube, the track's Vice President-General Manager, said a portion of the $660,000 in Florida Cup purse money will be allocated to the track's overnight purse account, enabling Tampa Bay Downs to continue its 2019-2020 meeting beyond next...