tampa bay downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Apprentice Jockey Luis Marcano Dies In Motorcycle Accident In Puerto Rico

Luis Yamil Marcano, who spent most of 2023 riding at Belterra Park, before returning to his native Puerto Rico in October to ride at Camarero, died Sunday night from injuries he sustained from a motorcycle accident. He was 19.

The news was first reported on Camarero's Facebook page, which posted the following: “Camarero Racecourse regrets the sudden death of rider Luis Yamil Marcano. Luis graduated from the Agustín Mercado Reverón Equestrian Vocational School in 2022 staying active since then in races at Camarero Racecourse and several racecourses in the United States. Our deepest condolences to all his family and friends. May he rest in peace!”

According to reports, Marcano was traveling on a white 2009 Honda CRF-450 motorcycle which was hit by a Ford F-150 vehicle. That driver of that vehicle fled the scene.

Sources close to Marcano said he was planning to return to the U.S. to ride at Tampa Bay Downs.

He made his debut Jan. 1, 2023 and won on his second career mount. He raced 382 times and rode 52 winners. He also was active at Thistledown, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Ellis Park, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Mahoning Valley and Turfway Park.

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Good Magic Colt Turns In Towering Tampa Debut, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’

LSU Stables' ARI'S MAGIC (c, 3, Good Magic–Ari the Adventurer, by Pioneerof the Nile) looked to be spinning his wheels for the better part of the opening half-mile of his Friday unveiling at Tampa Bay Downs, but surged to the front under a massive head of steam with a furlong to race and widened from there to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Samy Camacho was named to ride, but it was Oisin Murphy at the controls aboard the 9-10 pick, who bounced alertly from gate seven, but was almost immediately under a ride, with just two of his eight rivals behind him through the opening exchanges. Busily ridden into the turn, the $150,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $725,000 OBS March breezer continued to chart a wide course on the bend, but was making some forward progress. Still with plenty of work to do when five or perhaps six paths off the inside running rail in upper stretch, Ari's Magic found his best stride, inhaled pacesetting Snowname (The Big Beast) just inside the eighth pole and skipped away to graduate by four lengths before going farther clear on the gallop out. The debuting Vino Santo (Bucchero) sat an inside trip and boxed on well for second while no menace to the winner. Ari's Magic is a third 'Rising Star' for his Hill 'n' Dale-based stallion. Sales history: $150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $725,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. O-LSU Stables; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Christophe Clement.

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Florida Breeder And Stallion Awards Upped

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association reported a substantial increase in awards will be paid to breeders and stallion owners for 2024 through their Annual Awards Plan that was approved by the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the organization said in a release Thursday.

The plan increases, which were enabled with the enactment of HB 7063, would increase Florida breeder and stallion awards by one-third, from the 15% level in 2023 to as much 20% of the announced gross purse in 2024.

HB 7063 is a $1.3 billion tax package and includes $5 million provided to the FTBOA for Florida breeding awards and incentives.

Breeder awards will be paid at 12.5% for first place, 5% for second place and 2.5% for third place, subject to specified caps. Those caps would also increase to $12,500 for first (an increase from $10,500 in 2023), $5,000 for second (an increase from $3,000), and $2,500 for third (an increase from $1,500).

Stallion awards in 2024 will be capped at $20,000 (an increase from $15,000) for wins in black-type races in Florida.

The total Florida breeder and stallion awards budget for 2024 is projected to be more than $8 million, a 52% increase from $5.3 million in 2023.

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Tampa Steward Lima Passes Away

The racing community at Tampa Bay Downs is mourning the loss of former association steward Dennis Lima, who passed away Wednesday, May 24, at the age of 77.

“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 treated everybody equally. He was so down to earth and never got riled up. [His passing] is just a huge loss for everybody.”

Some 60 years ago, Lima rode a train from Rhode Island with a shipment of horses bound for Tampa Bay Downs, then called Sunshine Park, and the barn of trainer Doc Canzano. After returning north in 1964, Lima trained horses in New England, was an assistant to Ned Allard and also worked as a jockey's agent. Lima worked on the Massachusetts fair circuit and at Suffolk Downs and at Rockingham Park as a paddock judge, placing judge and entry clerk. He was named an alternate steward at those tracks in 1987 and became a full-time steward three years later. He remained in that role at Rockingham from 1990 until the track's closure in 2002.

Lima was hired to work at Tampa in 1993 as an Association Steward and also worked as a State Steward at Delaware Park from 2003-2021.

“The most important thing is to be as fair and consistent as possible with our rulings and our judgment calls during the races,” Lima told a reporter 10 yeards ago. “For me, the most rewarding aspect of this job is when you finish a meet knowing you have done your part to keep it as safe as you can for the horses and the jockeys.”

During his time at Tampa, Lima struck up a friendship with former track announcer Richard Grunder, whose box was adjacent the stewards'.

“He was a very even-tempered guy who handled himself the same with all types of people, from grooms to Hall of Fame trainers,” Grunder said. “He had the perfect personality to be a steward. He read the films really good, knew the job inside-out and any tough situations that came up, he would take the reins and make the call. I've been in press boxes from the Pacific Northwest to Florida, and he was one of the best I've ever worked with.

“Plus, he was just a fun guy to be around. He was a witty, old New England son of a gun.”

Lima is survived by his wife, Celeste; their children, Monique and Shaun; several grandchildren; and a son, Dennis E. Lima. He was predeceased by a daughter, Melissa. Per his wishes, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760.

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