Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack Horse Racing
Active races and results can be found at the Tampa Bay Downs horse betting page.
December 6 - December 31
Width of stretch: 75 feet
Composition: Sand and clay composition
Turf: 7/8 mile in circumference with a 1/4 mile chute
Width of stretch: 80 feet
Composition: Tifton #419 Bermuda turf
Feels Like:
Humidity:
Wind: ENE at 9 mph
Bodog Racebook Payout Limits
Max per Race Payout: $10,000U.S. Graded Stakes Races at Tampa Bay Downs
| Date | Race | Grade | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 16, 2008 | Endeavour Breeders' Cup Stakes | III | Filly & Mare Turf |
| March 15, 2008 | Florida Oaks | III | Distaff |
| March 15, 2008 | Hillsborough Stakes | III | Filly & Mare Turf |
| March 15, 2008 | Tampa Bay Derby | III | Dirt Mile |
About Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack
Tampa Bay is a city of approximately 300,000 people located on the Western seaboard of Florida, nestled between Jacksonville and Miami. In 1926, Tampa Bay Downs was opened to the public, inaugurated by Ohio-based investors Harvey Myers and Matt Winn.
The Tampa Bay turf track and field club were created in 1934 - the option for both dirt and grass tracks increased crowd numbers and betting options. In 1943, the U.S Army took hold of the racetrack and morphed it into a training center and a location to build barracks for World War II.
In 1947, Tampa Bay created the first functional toteboard, electric starting gate and a photo finish camera in a nod to the technological advances that would further racing. While many racetracks later acquired these technologies, Tampa Bay was one of the only tracks to incorporate all of these features at the same time.
In 1953, Florida legislature passed a special bill that allowed the track to keep a 15% take and to pay a $4,000 daily fee. The track gradually began to show a profit, and clubhouse construction followed. In what proved to be a huge step for women in the world of horseracing, Lorraine King was named the general manager of Tampa Bay Downs in 1986, completing the only non-related all-female ownership and management team at a major racetrack.
In 1992, a "Picnic Area" was installed near the grandstand to give families a chance to enjoy the races in a calm environment. This was also the year the "Z-Alpha" display board was introduced, another technological advancement designed to keep bettors more informed.
In 2004, Tampa Bay Downs set records in 10 statistical categories, including a total attendance increase (11%) and a double-digit increase in total live all-source handle (24%). Track improvements for the year included a permanent tent over the picnic area and a new seven-furlong chute.