Tampa Bay Downs Horse Racing Track in Florida
Established in 1926, Tampa Bay Downs has a long and successful history in the world of horse racing. The track is located in Oldsmar, Florida, and it has operated under a number of different names during the course of its history. The most famous of these being Florida Downs, however this name ceased to be used quite some time ago.
Like many other tracks during the Second World War, Tampa Bay Downs was used as an army training facility during 1943. Fortunately horses were permitted to return to the track after the war and soon racing was back in full force. In 1983 the track started to offer the public something new – Arabian races. These were wildly popular as the smaller, hot-blooded little horses provided a new twist on an old game. It wasn’t long before other forms of gambling made their way to the racetrack, though poker tournaments were shut down in 2005. However the track continues to offer year-round simulcast wagering.
Tampa Bay Downs has two tracks. One is the main track – a one-mile oval with a dirt surface and two chutes (3/8’s and 7/8’s of a mile), and the other being a seven-furlong turf course with a one-mile inner chute. Races are generally run between January and May and sometimes also in December. There is an admission fee for both the grandstand and the clubhouse but it is relatively low. Tampa Bay Downs hosts the Florida Oaks and the Tampa Bay Derby each year and it also hosts a number of non-graded stakes during the course of the racing season. The racetrack is noteworthy as it is the only racetrack on Florida’s west coast – a fact which only adds to its popularity. You’ll find this great thoroughbred racing track on Race Track Road in Tampa Bay, Florida. Don’t miss it!
