Tampa Bay Downs facts for kids
Aerial view of Tampa Bay Downs from the east.
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| Location | Oldsmar, Florida |
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| Coordinates | 28°02′54″N 82°38′44″W / 28.04833°N 82.64556°W |
| Owned by | Stella F. Thayer, Howell Ferguson |
| Date opened | 1926 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
Tampa Bay Downs is a famous place in Florida where Thoroughbred horse racing happens. It's located in Oldsmar, near Tampa. This exciting racetrack first opened its doors in 1926. Over the years, it has been known by a few different names, like Tampa Downs and Sunshine Park.
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When Can You Visit Tampa Bay Downs?
The racetrack usually has races on most Wednesdays, Fridays, and weekends. The racing season runs from late November until early May. It's a great place to see horses compete!
What Does Tampa Bay Downs Look Like?
The main track at Tampa Bay Downs is a big, oval-shaped dirt track. It's about one mile (1.6 km) long. There's also a special grass track, called a turf course, which is about seven furlongs long. Many people think this grass track is one of the best in the country!
Tampa Bay Downs is the only Thoroughbred racetrack on Florida's west coast. Besides live horse races, you can also watch races happening at other tracks on big screens. There's even a place to play poker and a golf practice area called The Downs Golf Practice Facility.
The Story of Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs has a long and interesting history. It first opened in 1926 as Tampa Downs. It was started by an investor named Harvey Myers and a famous horse racing expert, Matt J. Winn.
During World War II, in 1943, the United States Army actually used the track as a training place.
After the war, in 1946, the track got a new name: Sunshine Park. This was a modern time for the track! They added new technology like an electric starting gate for races, a photo finish camera to see who won, and an electric board to show the betting odds.
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In the 1950s, many famous sports writers loved visiting the track. They would come to Florida to cover baseball spring training and often stopped by the races. They even called Sunshine Park the "Santa Anita of the South," comparing it to a very famous track in California.
The track changed its name again in 1965 to Florida Downs and Turf Club. Finally, in 1980, it became Tampa Bay Downs, the name we know today.
A very special moment happened on February 12, 1981. A young jockey named Julie Krone, who was only 17, won her very first race here! She later became a member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, which is a huge honor.
In 1986, the current owners, Stella F. Thayer and her brother Howell Ferguson, bought the track.
A big improvement came in 1998 when Tampa Bay Downs added its grass track. This new track quickly became very popular. The first race on the grass course was held on May 2, 1998, which was also Kentucky Derby Day. They also added a large golf practice area.
Tampa Bay Downs has seen many famous horses race there. In 2007, a horse named Street Sense won the Tampa Bay Derby. He then went on to win the Kentucky Derby, which is one of the biggest races in the world! Other famous winners like Super Saver, Drosselmeyer, and Always Dreaming have also raced at Tampa Bay Downs.
In 2003, the Silks Poker Room opened, giving visitors another fun activity. Before the 2007-2008 racing season, the track made more improvements. They added an elevator to the Grandstand and updated the poker room. They also created the Legends Bar, which has cool displays about famous racehorses like Seabiscuit.
In 2024, there was a unique situation during the Tampa Bay Derby. Due to problems with a telecommunications company, people couldn't place bets on the races that day. The races still happened, but only for purse money, not for betting.
Exciting Races at Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs is known for its exciting races. Many top trainers choose this track for their horses to compete. For example, in 2007, Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger brought Street Sense here before his big Kentucky Derby win.
The track's biggest event is called Festival Day. The main race on this day is the Grade III, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby. This race is for three-year-old horses. Festival Day also features other important races, like the Hillsborough Stakes and the Florida Oaks, making it a day full of thrilling competition.
Important Stakes Races
Tampa Bay Downs hosts several important races called stakes races. These include:
- Grade II
- Hillsborough Stakes
- Grade III
- Challenger Stakes
- Endeavour Stakes
- Florida Oaks
- Tampa Bay Derby
- Tampa Bay Stakes
- Other Listed Races
- Columbia Stakes
- Gasparilla Stakes
- Inaugural Stakes
- Lightning City Stakes
- Minaret Stakes
- Pasco Stakes
- Pelican Stakes
- Sam F. Davis Stakes
- Sandpiper Stakes
- Suncoast Stakes
- Turf Dash
- Wayward Lass Stakes
See also
- List of casinos in Florida
