Tampa Bay Downs
Encyclopedia
Tampa Bay Downs is an American Thoroughbred horse racing
facility located in Westchase
in Hillsborough County
, just outside Tampa, Florida
. It opened in 1926 under the name Tampa Downs. The first of many names, the racetrack was well known as Sunshine Park and Florida Downs.
course is seven furlongs and includes a quarter mile inner chute. Tampa Bay Downs, which has long been famous as the only Thoroughbred race track on the West Coast of Florida, provides Bay area sports fans with live racing action from December through May.
investor Harvey Mayers and Kentucky Colonel
Matt J. Winn
.
In 1943, the United States Army
took over the track for use as a training facility.
In 1946 the track was renamed Sunshine Park and entered the modern era with the installation of an electric starting gate, photo finish and electric tote board.
During the 1950s, the racecourse was a popular attraction with many sportswriters who came to the Tampa Bay area to cover baseball spring training. Legendary names like Grantland Rice
, Red Smith, Fred Russell
and Arthur Daley became regular visitors, calling the track the “Santa Anita of the South.”
The year 1965 marked the third name change for the track when it opened as Florida Downs. The track returned to its original name of Tampa Downs in 1980.
On February 12, 1981, Julie Krone
, then an apprentice jockey
and now a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, got her first career victory here.
In 1983 the track began running periodic Arabian horse
races. The Arabian-bred program ended in 2003.
The present owner, Stella F. Thayer
, assumed the reins in 1986 and the track became known as Tampa Bay Downs.
In 1998 Tampa Bay Downs added its 7/8-mile grass track, complete with a ¼ mile chute, which has become one of the most popular turf courses in North America. The course was completed in the spring of 1998 and the first race was contested on Kentucky Derby
Day, May 2, 1998. This new avenue has provided more opportunities for the horsemen and patrons alike. Other renovations include a state-of-the-art 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) golf range called the Downs Golf Practice Facility, which includes a 270 yards (246.9 m) driving range, two in-house golf instructors as well as a wagering facility.
When Tampa Bay Downs concluded its 81st season on May 6, 2007, the track established new records in handle, attendance and purses paid, including an all-time attendance mark of 11,014 on Kentucky Derby Day, May 5, 2007, which featured Tampa Bay Derby winner Street Sense becoming the first graduate of the Tampa Bay Derby to win the Kentucky Derby. Tampa Bay Derby day also marked the Oldsmar oval’s highest-ever handle, with $10,916,634 wagered on the Tampa Bay Downs signal on that day. Street Sense and Any Given Saturday were two of the notable horses who competed over the Tampa Bay Downs surface in the 2006-2007 racing season; they were joined by such notable horses as Cotton Blossom, Istan and Autobahn Girl.
The Silks Poker Room opened during the 2004 season, and in June 2007 began operating on a year-round basis from 10 a.m.-4 a.m..
Tampa Bay Downs has 25 stakes scheduled for the 2011-2012 meeting, including five that are graded. The Tampa Bay Derby, to be contested March 10 for a $350,000 purse, is a Grade II race for 3-year-olds. The $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds is a Grade III event on Feb. 4. Other Grade III races are scheduled on the turf: the Endeavour Stakes for older fillies and mares on Feb. 4, the Tampa Bay Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward on Feb. 25 and the Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares on March 10.
Tampa Bay Downs’ 82nd season was highlighted by records set in both attendance and out-of-state wagering handle. On Festival Day, March 15, 2008, a record 12,746 fans arrived at the Oldsmar oval to witness Big Truck capture the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby. Tampa Bay Downs had three Eclipse award winners attend the 2007-2008 meeting: Rosemary Homeister, Jr., who won the Outstanding Apprentice award in 1992, was a regular fixture in the Jocks’ Room at the Oldsmar oval, finishing the season as the second leading rider overall. Dreaming of Anna, who was the Champion Juvenile Filly of 2006, swept both the Grade III Endeavour Breeders’ Cup and the Grade III Hillsborough Stakes at the Oldsmar oval. War Pass, who was the 2007 Two-Year-Old Champion, competed in the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby.
Before the 2007-2008 race meet began, Tampa Bay Downs underwent several renovations, including the installation of the Grandstand elevator; the all-new Silks Poker Room, located on the third floor of the Grandstand; and the Party Suite, adjacent to the Silks Poker Room, was also updated with new flat-screen TVs installed. The Legends Bar, which includes a museum-quality exhibition of famed Thoroughbred Seabiscuit, became the newest feature of the second floor of the Grandstand. Horsemen enjoyed improvements to the Paddock area, with all-new stalls in the saddling barn ensuring the safety and comfort of horses and their connections. Other facility upgrades at the Oldsmar oval include a refurnished Racing Office on the backstretch, as well as a renovated track kitchen.
The 85th season saw more records, as Tampa Bay Downs climbed into the upper echelon of North American racetracks. Average daily wagering handle during the 2010-11, 90-day meeting was a record $4,572,074, an increase of 9.2 percent from the previous season. The average field size of 9.11 horses per race is among the highest in the country and was aided by an increase in the number of turf races, from 205 to 243. Average daily attendance was 3,195. The 31st running of the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12 attracted a record all-source wagering handle of $10,949,948, which included $876,063 wagered on track.
Stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs
Grade 2:
Grade 3:
Ungraded
The track also runs numerous non-graded stakes and the purses have set records in the past several years. The grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes
is now an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby
.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
facility located in Westchase
Oldsmar, Florida
Oldsmar is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,910 at the 2000 census. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population to be 13,401 as of 2008....
in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
, just outside Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. It opened in 1926 under the name Tampa Downs. The first of many names, the racetrack was well known as Sunshine Park and Florida Downs.
Season
The track races from December until May. The 2011-2012 Thoroughbred racing season runs from Dec. 3, 2011-May 6, 2012.Physical attributes
The main track is a one mile (1.6 km) dirt oval. The turfGrass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
course is seven furlongs and includes a quarter mile inner chute. Tampa Bay Downs, which has long been famous as the only Thoroughbred race track on the West Coast of Florida, provides Bay area sports fans with live racing action from December through May.
History
Tampa Bay Downs first opened its doors in 1926 under the name of Tampa Downs and has since amassed a long and colorful history. The founding operation was headed by OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
investor Harvey Mayers and Kentucky Colonel
Kentucky colonel
Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation...
Matt J. Winn
Matt Winn
Colonel Martin J. "Matt" Winn was a prominent personality in American thoroughbred horse racing history and president of Churchill Downs racetrack, home to the Kentucky Derby race that he made famous....
.
In 1943, the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
took over the track for use as a training facility.
In 1946 the track was renamed Sunshine Park and entered the modern era with the installation of an electric starting gate, photo finish and electric tote board.
During the 1950s, the racecourse was a popular attraction with many sportswriters who came to the Tampa Bay area to cover baseball spring training. Legendary names like Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
, Red Smith, Fred Russell
Fred Russell
Fred Russell was an American sports writer prominent in the Golden Era of Sports in the 20th century...
and Arthur Daley became regular visitors, calling the track the “Santa Anita of the South.”
The year 1965 marked the third name change for the track when it opened as Florida Downs. The track returned to its original name of Tampa Downs in 1980.
On February 12, 1981, Julie Krone
Julie Krone
Julie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...
, then an apprentice jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and now a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee, got her first career victory here.
In 1983 the track began running periodic Arabian horse
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
races. The Arabian-bred program ended in 2003.
The present owner, Stella F. Thayer
Stella F. Thayer
Stella F. Thayer is president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.Thayer, president of Tampa Bay Downs, succeeded John T. von Stade, becoming the museum's ninth president in 2005...
, assumed the reins in 1986 and the track became known as Tampa Bay Downs.
In 1998 Tampa Bay Downs added its 7/8-mile grass track, complete with a ¼ mile chute, which has become one of the most popular turf courses in North America. The course was completed in the spring of 1998 and the first race was contested on Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
Day, May 2, 1998. This new avenue has provided more opportunities for the horsemen and patrons alike. Other renovations include a state-of-the-art 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) golf range called the Downs Golf Practice Facility, which includes a 270 yards (246.9 m) driving range, two in-house golf instructors as well as a wagering facility.
When Tampa Bay Downs concluded its 81st season on May 6, 2007, the track established new records in handle, attendance and purses paid, including an all-time attendance mark of 11,014 on Kentucky Derby Day, May 5, 2007, which featured Tampa Bay Derby winner Street Sense becoming the first graduate of the Tampa Bay Derby to win the Kentucky Derby. Tampa Bay Derby day also marked the Oldsmar oval’s highest-ever handle, with $10,916,634 wagered on the Tampa Bay Downs signal on that day. Street Sense and Any Given Saturday were two of the notable horses who competed over the Tampa Bay Downs surface in the 2006-2007 racing season; they were joined by such notable horses as Cotton Blossom, Istan and Autobahn Girl.
The Silks Poker Room opened during the 2004 season, and in June 2007 began operating on a year-round basis from 10 a.m.-4 a.m..
Tampa Bay Downs has 25 stakes scheduled for the 2011-2012 meeting, including five that are graded. The Tampa Bay Derby, to be contested March 10 for a $350,000 purse, is a Grade II race for 3-year-olds. The $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds is a Grade III event on Feb. 4. Other Grade III races are scheduled on the turf: the Endeavour Stakes for older fillies and mares on Feb. 4, the Tampa Bay Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward on Feb. 25 and the Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares on March 10.
Tampa Bay Downs’ 82nd season was highlighted by records set in both attendance and out-of-state wagering handle. On Festival Day, March 15, 2008, a record 12,746 fans arrived at the Oldsmar oval to witness Big Truck capture the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby. Tampa Bay Downs had three Eclipse award winners attend the 2007-2008 meeting: Rosemary Homeister, Jr., who won the Outstanding Apprentice award in 1992, was a regular fixture in the Jocks’ Room at the Oldsmar oval, finishing the season as the second leading rider overall. Dreaming of Anna, who was the Champion Juvenile Filly of 2006, swept both the Grade III Endeavour Breeders’ Cup and the Grade III Hillsborough Stakes at the Oldsmar oval. War Pass, who was the 2007 Two-Year-Old Champion, competed in the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby.
Before the 2007-2008 race meet began, Tampa Bay Downs underwent several renovations, including the installation of the Grandstand elevator; the all-new Silks Poker Room, located on the third floor of the Grandstand; and the Party Suite, adjacent to the Silks Poker Room, was also updated with new flat-screen TVs installed. The Legends Bar, which includes a museum-quality exhibition of famed Thoroughbred Seabiscuit, became the newest feature of the second floor of the Grandstand. Horsemen enjoyed improvements to the Paddock area, with all-new stalls in the saddling barn ensuring the safety and comfort of horses and their connections. Other facility upgrades at the Oldsmar oval include a refurnished Racing Office on the backstretch, as well as a renovated track kitchen.
The 85th season saw more records, as Tampa Bay Downs climbed into the upper echelon of North American racetracks. Average daily wagering handle during the 2010-11, 90-day meeting was a record $4,572,074, an increase of 9.2 percent from the previous season. The average field size of 9.11 horses per race is among the highest in the country and was aided by an increase in the number of turf races, from 205 to 243. Average daily attendance was 3,195. The 31st running of the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12 attracted a record all-source wagering handle of $10,949,948, which included $876,063 wagered on track.
Current year
Numerous changes are in store for the 2011-12 meeting that will benefit fans, horsemen and the environment. The most noticeable will be the introduction of Trakus, an electronic tracking system which displays the exact position and location of each horse on television monitors during a race. Tampa Bay Downs also is in the initial stages of a green initiative that track management hopes will eventually result in a net-zero impact on the environment. Improvements in place for the meeting include a CREE LED lighting system in the clubhouse and grandstand and the installation of a Gaco Sil S-20 Cool Roof coating system.Racing
The reputation of Tampa Bay Downs as a proving grounds for champions has grown by leaps and bounds since Thayer assumed control. In 2007, Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger brought his 3-year-old Street Sense to Oldsmar for the Tampa Bay Derby, and the colt's victory was a springboard to his win in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Another Hall of Fame trainer, William Mott, selected Tampa Bay Downs for the first 2011 starts for his 3-year-old filly Royal Delta and 4-year-old colt Drosselmeyer. Royal Delta went on to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff and Drosselmeyer won the Breeders' Cup Classic. The track's annual showcase is Festival Day, which will be held March 10. The centerpiece is the $350,000, Grade II Tampa Bay Derby for 3-year-olds at a mile-and-a-sixteenth. Also on the March 10 card are the $150,000, Grade III Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile-and-an-eighth on the turf and the newly sponsored, $100,000 Stonewall Farm Ocala Suncoast Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies at one mile and 40 yards.Stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs
Grade 2:
- Tampa Bay DerbyTampa Bay DerbyThe Tampa Bay Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held in mid March at Tampa Bay Downs. A Grade III event since 2002, it is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. The race has gained in popularity over the past few years and is now listed as an...
Grade 3:
- Endeavour Breeders' Cup StakesEndeavour Breeders' Cup StakesThe Endeavour Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Tampa, Florida. Raced on turf over a distance of 1 1/16 miles , it is open to fillies and Mares, aged four and older....
- Hillsborough StakesHillsborough StakesThe Hillsborough Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid March at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Florida.A Grade III event since 2004, it is open to fillies and mares, three years of age and older...
- Sam F. Davis StakesSam F. Davis StakesThe Sam F. Davis Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Tampa, Florida. It is open to three-year olds and is used as a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby. In recent years it has begun being used as an early prep for the Kentucky...
- Tampa Bay Stakes
Ungraded
- Florida OaksFlorida OaksThe Florida Oaks is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies held annually at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Florida. It is currently an Ungraded stakes race run over a distance of 8.5 furlongs on turf....
The track also runs numerous non-graded stakes and the purses have set records in the past several years. The grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes
Sam F. Davis Stakes
The Sam F. Davis Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Tampa, Florida. It is open to three-year olds and is used as a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby. In recent years it has begun being used as an early prep for the Kentucky...
is now an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
.