Tampa Bay Downs
Racing information plus notable races at Tampa Bay Downs
Racing information plus notable races at Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs, the only Thoroughbred race track on the West Coast of Florida, is known as one of the oldest and most well-maintained racetracks in the country. The track made its debut in 1926 under the name of Tampa Downs, and has been renamed several times since. For several years, the racetrack operated as Sunshine Park and Florida Downs.
The present owner purchased the track in 1986, and since then Tampa Bay Downs has been continually improving. Right after closing its 81st season on May 6, 2007, Tampa Bay Downs set new records in handle, attendance and purses paid, including an all-time attendance mark of 11,014 on Kentucky Derby Day, which featured Tampa Bay Derby winner Street Sense becoming the first graduate of the Tampa Bay Derby to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby.
Tampa Bay Downs provides Bay area sports fans with live racing action from December through May. The track's annual showcase is Festival Day held every March. The centerpiece is the $350,000, Grade II Tampa Bay Derby for 3-year-olds at a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
Notable Races on Tampa Bay Downs:
GII Races
Endeavour Breeders Cup Stakes
Ohio Derby
Tampa Bay Derby
GIII Races
Endeavour Breeders Cup Stakes
Hillsborough Stakes
Sam F. Davis Stakes