Racing resumes on Saturday, December 13th for the opening day of Tampa Bay Downs’ 83rd season of live Thoroughbred racing. Post time for the first race is 12:25 PM, and gates open at 11:00 AM. Opening Day festivities include the track’s annual Opening Day Breakfast from 8 AM – 10 AM; for $6.95, guests are invited to watch morning workouts and enjoy a hot breakfast buffet, and jockeys and trainers will be on hand to talk about life at the track. The Silks Poker Room is now open from 12:30 PM through 12:30 AM daily.
TAMPA BAY DOWNS 2008 – 2009 EVENT CALENDAR
December 13th, 2008
Post Time 12:25 p.m.
Opening Day
Opening Day signals the starting of live thoroughbred racing for the season, and the day starts off with Breakfast at the Downs for only $6.95, you will receive full breakfast buffet, grandstand admission and live program plus a handicapping seminar. Jockeys and trainers will also be on hand as you watch the morning workouts. Hours: 8:00am - 10:00am in the Trackside Picnic Pavilion, pre-purchase tickets at Customer Service. The afternoon’s racing includes the $65,000 Lightning City Stakes for fillies and mares three years old and up.
December 27th, 2008
Post Time 12:25 p.m.
Cotillion Festival Day
Enjoy a full day of two-year-ld racing at Tampa Bay Downs capped off by the $65,000 Sandpiper Stakes for fillies and the $65,000 Inaugural Stakes for colts and geldings! Cotillion Festival Day also includes the ever-popular Calendar Giveaway with every paid admission while supplies last!
January 4th, 2009
Post Time 12:25 p.m.
Sunday Brunch Begins
Enjoy a full day of racing and first class dining at Tampa Bay Downs’ Sunday Brunch for only $26.95 in the Skye Terrace Dining Room, reservations are always suggested.
January 17th, 2009
Post Time 12:25pm
Skyway Festival Day
Skyway Festival Day is Tampa’s premiere day of three-year-old racing in January! See the bright stars of the Oldsmar oval compete in the $65,000 Gasparilla Stakes for three-year-old fillies and the $75,000 Pasco Stakes for colts and geldings three years old.
January 24th, 2009
Post Time 12:25pm
Cap Giveaway Day
Free Tampa Bay Downs Cap with paid admission while supplies last
January 25th, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Family Fiesta Day
Tampa Bay Downs Backyard for the family hosted by Univision Television. The themed afternoon will feature free Latin entertainment and personalities, pony rides, games and more!
January 31st, 2009
Post Time 12:25pm
Roll Back the Prices
Roll Back the Prices Days feature $1.00 Beer, $1.00 Nathan’s Hot Dogs and $1.00 Soda. These items are offered between the hours of 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm in concession stands.
February 8th, 2009
Post Time 12:25pm
Kids and Family Day
The ever-popular Kids and Family Days are back join Radio Disney and the gang for an afternoon of free fun, games and Pony Rides in the Backyard.
Feb. 14th, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Festival Preview Day
Enjoy Festival Preview Day featuring the Grade III $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, the $150,000 Grade III Endeavour Breeders’ Cup and the $75,000 Suncoast Stakes; or enjoy a variety of lunch options with the Taste of Tampa Bay, featuring some of their most popular menu items during the event adjacent and just north of the Grandstand! Each featured Bay area restaurant will have a variety of items available at reasonable prices from noon until 3 p.m.
February 22nd, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Family Fiesta Day
Tampa Bay Downs Backyard for the family hosted by Univision Television. The themed afternoon will feature free Latin entertainment and personalities, pony rides, games and more!
March 1st, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Kids and Family Day
The ever-popular Kids and Family Days are back join Radio Disney and the gang for an afternoon of free fun, games and Pony Rides in the Backyard.
March 7th, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Blues and Bar-B-Que Festival
Join us for a day and evening of Blues music and bar-b-qued ribs in the Picnic Area! The Blues and Bar-B-Que Festival will begin at noon and continue throughout the evening with food and fun for the whole family.
March 8th, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Family Fiesta Day
Tampa Bay Downs Backyard for the family hosted by Univision Television. The themed afternoon will feature free Latin entertainment and personalities, pony rides, games and more!
March 14th, 2009
Post Time 12:00 NOON
Tampa Bay Downs Festival Day
The biggest racing day in Tampa Bay’s calendar is Saturday, March 14th, 2009 when the 29th renewal of the Grade III $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby, the Grade III $200,000 Florida Oaks, the Grade III $175,000 Hillsborough Stakes and the $75,000 Turf Dash will be contested. Well over $725,000 in prize money is up for grabs and some of horse racing’s best will be battling out all the races to the wire. To celebrate Festival Day, a commemorative beach towel will be given out with paid admission while supplies last.
March 22nd, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Kids and Family Day
The ever-popular Kids and Family Days are back join Radio Disney and the gang for an afternoon of free fun, games and Pony Rides in the Backyard.
March 29th, 2009
Post Time 12:25p.m.
Family Fiesta Day
Tampa Bay Downs Backyard for the family hosted by Univision Television. The themed afternoon will feature free Latin entertainment and personalities, pony rides, games and more!
April 4th, 2009
Post Time 12:25 p.m.
Florida Cup Day
The Florida Cup Day tradition continues this year on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 giving Florida-breds a chance to compete for over $550,000 in purses. The big day will feature six $85,000 stakes races – three for 3-year-olds and three for older horses – at a variety of distances on both dirt and turf.
April 11th, 2009
Post Time 12:25pm
Roll Back the Prices
Roll Back the Prices Days feature $1.00 Beer, $1.00 Nathan’s Hot Dogs and $1.00 Soda. These items are offered between the hours of 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm in concession stands.
May 2nd, 2009
Post Time 12:00 NOON
Kentucky Derby Day
Tampa Bay Downs will start off the afternoon’s racing with a special twelve race card that includes the $75,000 Chris Thomas Turf Classic! Later in the day the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby will be simulcast with your chance to watch and wager on racing’s biggest day. Mint Juleps will be available throughout the plant in the official commemorative glass.
May 3rd, 2009
Post Time 12:25 pm
Closing Day/Fan Appreciation Day
Free Grandstand Admission and Parking plus $1.00 Beer, $1.00 Soda and $1.00 Nathan’s Hot Dogs will be offered as Tampa Bay Downs’ way of saying thank you.