Margo Flynn has faced her share of challenges in 28 years at Tampa Bay Downs.
A career stop that began as a seasonal paddock analyst and eventually led to being named vice president of marketing and publicity has demanded that Flynn focus on enhancing the track's racing and customer experiences.
Few things, though, have been more challenging than trying to help solve the present dilemma of increasing purses.
"We do need some additional revenue sources from within the state at Tampa," Flynn said. "Gulfstream Park at least does have the casino, but we don't. We're really fighting an uphill battle to keep purses at an acceptable level and it's getting harder and harder by the moment."
Unlike Florida's Broward County, where Gulfstream Park is located, Tampa's Hillsborough County is not authorized for slot machines at racing facilities. Tampa Bay Downs does offer a poker room, which generates a relatively small amount of money for the track and purses.
"Certainly, it's an enhancement, (but) it's not having a casino," Flynn said. "It does create a different crowd. When we put in the poker room, we made an effort to have exposure to the horse racing."
Tampa Bay Downs' Silks Poker Room includes large glass windows allowing a view of the track. There's also racing on plasma televisions, and tellers in the room in an effort to get some crossover between the card playing and horse wagering.
"I don't know how much crossover there has successfully been over the years. I think most facilities can say the same thing," Flynn said. "I do think there have been some horseplayers who have crossed over to poker players. Hopefully, they kept up their horse playing as well."
As purses and the track rely on pari-mutuel wagering, especially on-track wagering, the track continues efforts to attract on-track patrons. Flynn and her team were involved in a number of renovations aiming to improve the guest experience heading into the 2023 season. New additions include The Veranda—once tiered bench seating on the grandstand's second floor that was leveled off, and now is a lounge-type area that offers an appetizer buffet and private bar.
"It's a really nice area to watch the races and enjoy the experience," Flynn said. "There also are walk-around tellers. More of a casual area for someone who is not the most hardened fan."
She also mentioned that "utilitarian" improvements, such as free Wi-Fi, were made on the backstretch.
Introducing people to racing is a perfect fit for Flynn, as horse racing was been in her family long before she was born. Her Australian great grandfather was a trainer, and her grandfather was a trainer and jockey who even rode in India for the then-emperor. Flynn's father also began a training career Down Under before moving to the United States. His horses ran in New England, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic region.
"I was obviously thrown into the daily care of horses since I was a very young age," Flynn said. "And sometimes when you're growing up and you have aspirations of doing other things or going out with your friends—and then sometimes, maybe, you get a little resentful of the horses. Obviously, they always came first."
With hopes of becoming a meteorologist, Flynn began studying at the State University of New York campus at Oswego. Her career plans changed after she returned home for summer break.
"My father had a project horse, and he said, 'Here, I'm going to give you this horse to give you something to do in the summer,'" Flynn said. "And, of course, it won, and it won again. And the rest is history."
Goodbye weather conditions, hello track conditions.
Flynn began training, while simultaneously working in the publicity department at Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H. She then transitioned to a full-time position at the track after her role expanded under Bill Nader. After Nader left to join the New York Racing Association, Flynn remained in New England for a year before being offered a seasonal job as paddock analyst at Tampa Bay Downs.
Despite enjoying the job, Flynn told the general manager she was unlikely to return for the seasonal opportunity because she had a daughter in middle school, and because of the cost of moving to Florida.
"He came back the next day with an offer for a full-time position,' she said. "However, I had to make my job, so to speak."
Flynn developed a position that included marketing, advertising, and sponsorship programs, while also retaining work in the paddock.
"There was nobody in those positions, so I was able to do as I will I guess," she said, "but it also meant I had to do those positions while I was doing the paddock show and everything else, including being the horsemen's liaison.
"It was a lot to do while racing, at the time. And I did it for about 15 years before I gave up the paddock a few years ago."
While her current role "covers the gamut" and pulls her in different directions, Flynn adds, "it makes every day interesting."
As Flynn looks ahead, the longtime Tampa Bay Downs veteran doesn't see herself moving on anytime soon.
"I see my role transitioning a little bit, to be more of an overseeing role," Flynn said. "But I certainly see my future the next couple of years to be here."
