Records set at Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs concluded its 79th season of racing on Sunday and established

10 records for handle, attendance and purses, including an all-time attendance

mark of 10,246 on Festival Day, which featured SUN KING (Charismatic) winning

the March 19 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

The Florida track reported total live all-sources handle of $320,381,480 for

the 94-day meet, up 8.9 percent compared to $294,442,708 in 2004.

The total attendance was 330,248, a 1.6 percent increase compared to 325,025

last year.

The total handle mark established a new record while the attendance figure

was the highest since 1995.

Tampa Bay Downs paid a total of $13,626,909 in purses, with average daily

purses of $144,967, both records.

"Once again we were able to increase our numbers in every statistical

category," Tampa Bay Downs Vice President and General Manager Peter Berube said.

"To date, I believe we are the only racetrack in the country that can make that

statement. Our fans both locally and nationally continue to embrace our

improving product evidenced by the daily average handle of $3.4 million."

Don Rice won his eighth training title, saddling 35 winners, many for Michael

Buccina, who topped the owner's list with 17 victories.

Jesus Castanon won his second consecutive riding crown, booting home 101

winners. T.D. Houghton, last year's runner-up, was second once again with 91

trips to the winner's circle.