NGA Greyhound Review 2016

Daytona Beach track
sweeps annual awards

Each year Delaware North’s Gaming & ors. And making the evening more
Entertainment Units present an annual special was the presence of many
awards banquet celebrating associates that Delaware North GM’s from across
the country including corporate offi-
cers from the NY headquarters.

scored 100% on the unit’s mystery shop program. This Delaware North marked 100
years in 2015 for the Jacobs family
year it was the smallest company in size and offerings owned corporation. They celebrated
a proud past and inspired future and
that made the biggest impact. Daytona Beach Kennel the employees at Daytona could not
be more inspired and proud after the
Club and Poker Room topped the charts in all awards. And to add

icing on the cake the Daytona night was over. The Daytona facil-

Beach facility was presented unit Later in the evening the awards ity was rebuilt in 2008 after selling
of the year for the third time in the began. One by one select employees the old property to the Daytona 500
Speedway, which is in eyesight of the
past four years. It by received recognition in areas that new facilty. The new and improved
was humbling to all Vera included Leader of the Year, Rookie Daytona track is the only greyhound
in the company to Rasnake of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. racing facility that is LEED Gold
achieve the awards There were thirty associates that rep-
resented over 500 years of service Certified, which the track earned
going against their
sister giants Southland Greyhound to the company that received hon- awards for in the area.

Park in Arkansas and Wheeling

Island Hotel Casino & Racetrack in

West Virginia.

The February 28 gala was a bit-

tersweet evening for the Daytona

employees that said good-bye to

Dan Francati, who stepped down as

GM after eleven years at the helm.

Moving up in the position from

Racing Manager to GM is Fred

Guzman, who has been part of the

Daytona landscape since 1983. The

Daytona facility may be small in

size, but as the saying goes “dyna-

mite comes in small packages.”

The black tie gala was held in

the club house dining room that was

transformed into a luxurious formal

candle light dining affair. A delec-

table dinner was served and enjoyed

while renowned Orlando FL enter-

tainer Jared Burnett enhanced the

evening with unique sounds from his Senator Hukill...75 career victories to date.

electric violin.

There is constant activities on

track that include a weekly handi-

capping contest along with simul-

cast contests. Concerts are held at

the track as well as other events

throughout the year. And plans are

in the making for a second annual

greyhound gala fundraising event

for RRRFT hosted by the track, rac-

ing officials and kennels that will be

held September 22. The evening will

include live music entertainment, a

sumptuous feast and a feature race

for the kennels.

On a final note, the Daytona staff

is excited about a pending additional

location in Orange City. The Orange

City Racing and Card Club is slated

A full house at Delaware North Awards ceremony. to open in the fall pending approval.

Delaware North has an annual impact

on the FL economy of $219M. The

additional location will add more jobs

The Daytona track also wrapped Daytona adds dining room specials and money into the local and state

up a second installment of the that see the room fully booked sever- economy. If all goes well the new addi-

Daytona 550 which presented eight al days a week. Those that enjoy the tion will open in the fall of 2016. More

greyhound greats from 2015 includ- Friday Crab Leg special have been information regarding Daytona and the

ing the defending champion Husker known to make their reservations new Orange City facility can be found

Magic that was named the Rural weeks in advance. at daytonagreyhound.com

Rube recipient and Captain of the

All-America Team. The female phe-

mom is also close to hitting the 100

career win mark in St. Petersburg.

Although Husker Magic is not on

the Daytona racing roster Senator

Hukill is and she is a fan favorite.

The 61-pound powerhouse from

Waverider Racing is named after a

FL senator. The Ladonna Hampton

trained female boasts a 75% career

win record from 121 starts and car-

ries an 84% trifecta record. On

March 4th the senator was nosed out

stopping her streak. Her 2016 record

is 8-5-3-0. Her trifecta career stats

are 121-75-22-5.

Waverider is also top kennel to

date with 157 wins. Richard Alves is

in second place with 148 wins. Soul

Runner is third with 117 and nipping

at their heels is Velocity Racing with

116. Tri Command is in fifth with

102 wins of the eight kennels that

make up the Daytona roster.

Along with the daily Poker games
and live racing six days a week Jared Burnett and his electric violin provided the evening’s entertainment.