Tampa Bay Downs is requiring veterinarians to pay their first-ever licensing fees for its meet that begins Dec. 13. A licensing fee for blacksmiths was planned, but it has been put off until the 2009-2010 racing season.

Margo Flynn, vice president of marketing and publicity at Tampa Bay, said the new license fees will be used to help cover Tampa Bay Downs’ costs of improving its system for waste disposal in the backstretch area.

In an Oct. 25 letter to vendors, track management said the licensing fees “will incorporate vendors’ ability to conduct business” in the stable area and are “scaled to cover expenses such as disposal of hazardous bio-waste materials and job-related refuse,” such as horseshoes, nails, and files.

At a meeting with horsemen several days prior to opening the meet, Tampa Bay officials will provide a waiver for the horsemen to use for their own personal benefit to limit their exposure to injuries incurred by blacksmiths. “We will strongly suggest that they get their blacksmiths to sign the waiver,” Flynn said