Now, before y’all start giving me the stink eye, this is not a commentary on the ‘dos’ or the ‘don’ts’ of legalized gambling. It’s more a rant on how governmental fires place ever increasing heat on our already evaporating Florida history. Whether it’s paving the Everglades, propagandaing mythical bullet trains or allowing for airports were they don’t belong, bit by little bit, a part of old Florida dies. Broader casino gaming now has a green light to a select few and more hometown landmarks will feel the burn. You can’t throw a stone in St. Petersburg without hitting a point of interest and DERBY LANE has held it’s fort there for almost a century. T. L. Weaver, a lumber entrepreneur, constructed the greyhound track in the 1920′s. The LANE was featured in the 2001 film ‘Oceans Eleven.’ Such star greyhound athletes like Racing Ramp, Lucky Pilot and Keefer raced there. Just a romp uptown is Tampa’s historic TAMPA BAY DOWNS, who’s doors opened in 1926. In 1943, the U.S. Army used the track as a training facility. In 1983 the track began offering a periodic Arabian races. Sadly these establishments may quietly slip away as legalized gaming encourages a different direction. A direction where the new rules, for the old guard, do not apply.
©2007 Ann E. Sabo : click on image to enlarge.
Jo Ann Fenstermacher
Ann! You are brilliant! Love the bone in the mar’GRR’rita glass! Yea, those Seminoles really know how to work the system and use their power.
Nov 21, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Ann E.
Hey, Miss Jo Ann!
It just don’t seem right to give so much leeway to one group of folks at the exclusion of others who can not mutually participate and will, in time, face inevitable consequences. I’m not sure what the answer is… but this Florida trouble is five hundred yards of baaaaaaaad road.
Nov 24, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
STEVE
ANN
LOVE THE HORSE-
I THINK I BET ON HIM ONCE…
TBD OPENS THE 8th OF DECEMBER.
WILL THE LAST OF THE TWO DOLLAR BETTORS BE THERE THIS YEAR?
HOPE YOU HAD A NICE THANKSGIVING!
STEVE
Nov 25, 2007 @ 3:10 am
Ann E.
Steve!
Oh goodness me, is it that time of year again?
The King of the Two Buck Minimum won’t be attending with me this year, but I’ll be rootin’ in the grandstands (just ’cause i don’t bet don’t mean i don’t love a good horse race!)
Lunch at the clubhouse?
Let me know.
Dec 02, 2007 @ 12:31 am