HorseracingFLA Staff Report
Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs are changing their schedules this week in observance of Christmas which is Friday.
Neither track will have live racing on Christmas Eve, which is Thursday, or on Christmas Day.
Gulfstream usually has racing on both Thursdays and Fridays. Tampa Bay Downs is generally dark on Thursdays and has racing on Fridays.
Both tracks will have live racing this week on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Gulfstream’s first post is 12:05 p.m. on Sundays and 12:35 p.m. on other days. Tampa Bay’s first post is generally 12:28 (details below).
Tampa Bay will be open for poker and in-bound simulcasts on Thursday, and closed totally on Friday.
Gulfstream will be open for simulcasting on Thursday, but not on Friday.
The Gulfstream poker room and two casino rooms will be open frothier regular schedules on Thursday and Friday.
The simulcast menus will be smaller than usual on Thursday and Friday. Details will be available by calling either track or by going to their Web sites
Tampa Bay has no stakes races this week. Gulfstream has three stakes races on Saturday and one stakes on Sunday:
Saturday, Dec. 26:
* $100,000 Sugar Swirl (Grade 3) — six furlongs dirt, fillies and mares 3-years-old and up
* $100,000 W.L. McKnight (Grade 3) — 1 ½ miles turf, 3-year-olds and up
* $100,000 La Prevoyante (Grade 3) — 1 ½ miles turf, fillies & mares 3-years-old and up
Sunday, Dec. 27:
* $75,000 Windley — 5 furlongs turf, fillies and mares 3-years-old and up
Gulfstream Park
901 S. Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach, Fla. 33009
Phones — (954) 454-7000
Gulfstream Park Website
Gulfstream has racing on Wednesdays through Sundays during its winter meet that ends April 3.
First post is 12:05 p.m. on Saturdays and 12:35 p.m. on other race days.
In addition to live racing, Gulfstream has:
* Simulcast wagering — seven days a week with more than 30 thoroughbred and harness tracks; open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.
* Casino — the two casino rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays
* Poker — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tampa Bay Downs
11225 Race Track Road, Tampa, Florida 33626
Main Phone (813) 855-4401
Toll Free (In Florida) (866)-TBDOWNS (823-6967)
Tampa Bay Downs Website
Tampa Bay Downs will have four-day race weeks for most of its meet that will extend through next May 8. Race days will be Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
There are three exceptions. It will have racing on Thursday Feb. 18 and Thursday Feb. 25 and be dark on Easter Sunday, March 27.
Tampa Bay Downs is varying its first posts, with times between 12:22 p.m. and 12:28 p.m. It is doing that to help avoid having its first race start at the exact minute as the first race at one or more other East Coast tracks.
Because entries are out on numerous web sites at least two days prior to races, regular bettors have sufficient notice of Tampa Bay’s first race post time.
(Editor’s Note: Many bettors who bet multiple tracks would like to see more tracks take steps–coordinated if possible–to avoid having two races leave the gate just seconds apart.)
On days when it does not have live racing, Tampa Bay Downs is open for simulcasting and its poker room and golf range are open their regular hours.
*The Silks Poker Room hours of operation: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
The Downs Golf Practice Facility hours of operation:
Pro Shop: 8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. daily (Last bucket sold at 7:45 p.m.)
Range: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily
Short Game Area: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily (lights out at 9:45 p.m.)