Up close and personal at Tampa Bay Downs paddock. Copyright AGOS
Judging by the response to Saturday’s inaugural “Tampa Bay Owners Club” contest, area horse racing fans are eager to discover as much information as possible about the joys and challenges of Thoroughbred ownership.
About 1,000 entries were submitted before today’s seventh race, with 90 fans correctly selecting the winner, 16-1 shot War Bridle, a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred colt.
That group now comprises the fantasy-based “Tampa Bay Owners Club” syndicate, with perks including free admission, a program, a mutuel voucher and concession-stand discounts each time War Bridle returns to action this season at Tampa Bay Downs.
The winners will also receive an attractive pin identifying them as club members. They are invited to visit the paddock each time War Bridle competes at Tampa Bay Downs and to join future winner’s-circle celebrations.
“We are delighted by the response from our fans, many of whom have expressed interest previously in learning about Thoroughbred ownership,” said Margo Flynn, the track’s Vice President of Marketing & Publicity. “We hope this will inspire them to look further into owning a racehorse for real as they learn more about the potential rewards of becoming involved.”
The winners landed on an exciting prospect in War Bridle, who won by seven-and-a-quarter lengths in good time of 1:11.28 for the 6-furlong distance. In his previous race in June, War Bridle set a track record (since lowered) for four-and-a-half furlongs at Belterra Park in Cincinnati in a maiden victory.
War Bridle is trained by Joan Scott and was ridden by Jesus Castanon. He is owned by the Backstretch Farms, Inc., enterprise of Ocala attorney David Davila and his family members, who purchased War Bridle for $27,000 at the July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale in Lexington, Ky.
Davila and his family entered Thoroughbred ownership about nine months ago and currently own 15 horses, mostly yearlings and weanlings, so the members of the “Tampa Bay Owners Club” appear to have good examples to learn from as they start on their journey.
Source: Press Release
