HorseracingFLA Staff Report
This week’s highlight in Florida thoroughbred racing will come at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, with the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 2) and three other stakes races.
The Tampa Bay Derby is 1 1/16 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds. It is a major prep race for the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) that will be run May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Tampa Bay Downs will begin its race week on Wednesday. It will be dark in Thursday, and then resume racing Friday through Sunday.
(NOTE: Photo on home page by Barry Unterbrink)
First post is usually 12:25 p.m. This Saturday, first post is tentatively scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
Please check this Web site and our blog each race day morning for any schedule changes at Tampa Bay and at Gulfstream Park.
This week, Gulfstream will have its regular Wednesday through Sunday racing schedule. First post is listed for 12:35 p.m. each day.
Gulfstream’s only stakes races this week are a pair of $75,000 races on Saturday.
The Silks Run is five furlongs on turf for 4-year-olds and up. The Captiva Island is five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.
The other Saturday stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs are:
*200,000 Hillsborough (Grade 2) – 1 1/8 miles turf, fillies and mares 4-YO and up
*$200,000 Florida Oaks (Grade 3) – 1 1/16 miles turf, 3-YO fillies
*$100,000 Challenger — 1 1/16 miles dirt, 4-YO 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.
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.
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.)
