Mike Henry/Tampa Bay Downs

Dennis Lima wore a variety of hats during his 30 years as an Association Steward at Tampa Bay Downs – mentor, friend and confidant foremost among them. “He was somebody you could always talk to, and you could trust him to give you good advice,” said Tampa Bay Downs racing official Jenn Moore. “And he […]

Over the past couple of months, the only mystery surrounding Samy Camacho’s third consecutive Tampa Bay Downs riding title has been his final margin of victory. Even before runner-up Pablo Morales nearly had his little finger severed in a freak starting-gate accident on March 19, ending his meet, Camacho had too great a lead to […]

After earning his fourth career victory last June at Monmouth Park, apprentice jockey Laureano Sosa decided to take a break from race-riding for nine weeks. As an apprentice, Sosa – who turns 21 on Monday – is entitled to a weight allowance on his mounts for a year from the date of his fifth victory, […]

Raul Mena felt more tired than he’d expected after riding Antonov to a third-place finish in Tampa Bay Downs opener Sunday, the jockey’s first race since fracturing his left femur in an accident in a turf race at the Oldsmar, Fla. track on Dec. 7. Outside of his fatigue, which was increased by the heat […]

About 30 years from now, when a bunch of retired jockeys gather to talk about freak injuries, Pablo Morales will have a story to top all of them. The 34-year-old Tampa resident was awaiting the start of Sunday’s first race aboard 4-year-old Florida-bred filly Nicolino when all heck broke loose in the starting gate. In […]

Pablo Morales was forced off his mounts Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs after a freak accident in the starting gate before the first race. Morales, who was aboard 4-year-old filly Nicolino, suffered a compound fracture of his right pinkie when the horse to his outside, Azulene, reared in her stall and struck Morales’s hand on […]