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http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_273ab4c5-056b-58a7-8f08-a18df674c51d.html
new poker room in OCALA area...
Gambling and a quarter horse track come to Summerfield
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Amber Riccinto/Daily Commercial
Fanning the cards
Dealer Hercules Sullivan fans the cards at Oxford Downs.
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Amber Riccinto/Daily Commercial
Checking a hand
Checking a dealt poker hand.
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Amber Riccinto/Daily Commercial
Playing poker
Dealer Hercules Sullivan demonstrates how to work a poker table at Oxford Downs in Summerfield on Friday. The new poker room recently opened for business.
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Posted: Thursday, June 2, 2016 6:00 am | Updated: 7:01 am, Thu Jun 2, 2016.
Gambling and a quarter horse track come to SummerfieldMillard K. Ivesmillard.ives@dailycommercial.comdailycommercial.com | 0 comments
SUMMERFILED – Betting that there are plenty of players willing to gamble on their success, a poker room has opened in Summerfield just north of The Villages.
Straddling the Sumter-Marion county line off U.S. Highway 301, Oxford Downs opened for business a week ago Tuesday. The card room has 24 tables that offer Texas Holdem, 7 Card Stud, Omaha and other poker games played for various limited and unlimited bets. It is open 7 days a week.
Several of the tables were filled by 1 p.m. Friday. Some were chatting it up with poker friends they hadn’t seen in a while.
“It’s a nice place, see a lot of people I know from playing cards,” said Thomas Ellis shortly after raking in a small pot of chips on what is called a 1-2 dollar table.
Surrounded by pastures, the poker room has a track under construction in back that is slated to open up for quarter horse racing on June 6.
Randy Kiefer, director of gaming operations for the facility, said the operators wanted to open the track first but increasing interest from poker players resulted in the soft opening of the card room.
“This is for people who want a closer and great place to play cards,” he said.
A grand opening will be scheduled at a later date.
Oxford Downs is among a number poker rooms in the region that also includes Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa and Ocala. Several patrons of those facilities were at Oxford Downs on Friday.
A man who only wanted to be called “J.C.,” and who lives in southwest Marion County, decided to try his luck Friday afternoon on the 1-2 table
“It’s a lot closer,” said J.C., who said he frequents the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.
Oxford Downs has attracted dealers from other regional poker rooms too, Kiefer said.
Kiefer, who has been in the gaming business for about 18 years, said interest in poker has increased over the years.
Televised tournaments and games have made celebrities of some players, including Chris Moneymaker from World Series of Poker on ESPN.
While playing poker can bring riches, Kiefer said it’s the camaraderie that many people enjoy.
“People think it’s all about gambling, but it more about socializing,” he said. “And kind of a challenging of wits.”
Waitresses make frequent trips to tables to take drink and food orders from the bar and kitchen. There also are plans for a full-service restaurant. And tournaments will start in July.
But now the facility is trying to get its horse track ready. A giant straw tiki bar is already underway.
The facility is open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_273ab4c5-056b-58a7-8f08-a18df674c51d.html
new poker room in OCALA area...
PreviousNext
Amber Riccinto/Daily CommercialFanning the cards
Dealer Hercules Sullivan fans the cards at Oxford Downs.
<!-- end frame -->
Amber Riccinto/Daily CommercialChecking a hand
Checking a dealt poker hand.
<!-- end frame -->
Amber Riccinto/Daily CommercialPlaying poker
Dealer Hercules Sullivan demonstrates how to work a poker table at Oxford Downs in Summerfield on Friday. The new poker room recently opened for business.
<!-- end frame -->
<!-- end instant-gallery div -->
<!-- end instant-gallery-app div -->
<!--4th 300x250 In Story Ad-->
Posted: Thursday, June 2, 2016 6:00 am | Updated: 7:01 am, Thu Jun 2, 2016.
Gambling and a quarter horse track come to SummerfieldMillard K. Ivesmillard.ives@dailycommercial.comdailycommercial.com | 0 comments
SUMMERFILED – Betting that there are plenty of players willing to gamble on their success, a poker room has opened in Summerfield just north of The Villages.
Straddling the Sumter-Marion county line off U.S. Highway 301, Oxford Downs opened for business a week ago Tuesday. The card room has 24 tables that offer Texas Holdem, 7 Card Stud, Omaha and other poker games played for various limited and unlimited bets. It is open 7 days a week.
Several of the tables were filled by 1 p.m. Friday. Some were chatting it up with poker friends they hadn’t seen in a while.
“It’s a nice place, see a lot of people I know from playing cards,” said Thomas Ellis shortly after raking in a small pot of chips on what is called a 1-2 dollar table.
Surrounded by pastures, the poker room has a track under construction in back that is slated to open up for quarter horse racing on June 6.
Randy Kiefer, director of gaming operations for the facility, said the operators wanted to open the track first but increasing interest from poker players resulted in the soft opening of the card room.
“This is for people who want a closer and great place to play cards,” he said.
A grand opening will be scheduled at a later date.
Oxford Downs is among a number poker rooms in the region that also includes Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa and Ocala. Several patrons of those facilities were at Oxford Downs on Friday.
A man who only wanted to be called “J.C.,” and who lives in southwest Marion County, decided to try his luck Friday afternoon on the 1-2 table
“It’s a lot closer,” said J.C., who said he frequents the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.
Oxford Downs has attracted dealers from other regional poker rooms too, Kiefer said.
Kiefer, who has been in the gaming business for about 18 years, said interest in poker has increased over the years.
Televised tournaments and games have made celebrities of some players, including Chris Moneymaker from World Series of Poker on ESPN.
While playing poker can bring riches, Kiefer said it’s the camaraderie that many people enjoy.
“People think it’s all about gambling, but it more about socializing,” he said. “And kind of a challenging of wits.”
Waitresses make frequent trips to tables to take drink and food orders from the bar and kitchen. There also are plans for a full-service restaurant. And tournaments will start in July.
But now the facility is trying to get its horse track ready. A giant straw tiki bar is already underway.
The facility is open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
