World-class Thoroughbred racing returned to Tampa Bay Downs today, (11/19).

The Opening Day card of the 2025-2026 meet kicked off the tracks 100th year of operation!

Tampa Bay Downs is the only Thoroughbred racetrack on the West Coast of Florida and is known as one of America’s oldest and most well-maintained racetracks.

Tampa Bay Downs first opened its doors in 1926 under the name of Tampa Downs and has since had a long and colorful history.

Current ownership purchased the track in 1986, and since then Tampa Bay Downs has been continually improving. 

Tampa Bay Downs added its 7/8th mile grass track, complete with a ¼ mile chute, in 1998, and has become one of the most popular turf courses in North America.

In regard to the 2026 Kentucky Derby– the running of the $250,000-dollar, Grade 3, Sam F. Davis Stakes is February 7th.  

The Sam F. Davis awards points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby to the first five finishers.

The showcase event for this meet is (as always) the Tampa Bay Derby.  The 46th edition of this Grade 3, $400,000 dollar race will be held on March 7th. 

Not only will the Kentucky Derby prospects be running the mile-and-a-sixteenth for the purse money, but the first five finishers also earn qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

Tampa Bay Downs races on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with Sundays added to the mix on December 21st 

There is no racing on Easter, April 5th.

Tampa Bay Downs offers decent cards on their limited schedule, which leads to large fields and very good payouts.

Best of luck if you choose to play at Tampa Bay.