There have been 18 prep races so far on the 2023-2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby. Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs marks the halfway point as the thoroughbred needle moves toward the first Saturday in May. This Edition of the Sam F. Davis brings a full field of 12, led by WEST SARATOGA, Winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes back in September. AGATE … Continue reading Who Wins The Sam F. Davis?
The Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday is the lone Kentucky Derby prep race this weekend. Inaugurated in 1981, the Sam F. Davis (G3) needed more than twenty years to earn its place as a meaningful Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race. But since achieving a six-figure purse in 2004, the Sam F. Davis has steadily risen in prominence while … Continue reading The Sam F. Davis Stakes
World-class Thoroughbred racing returned to Tampa Bay Downs last Wednesday, November 22. The Opening Day card of the 2023-2024 meet kicked off the tracks 98th year of operation. The first Graded Stakes of the meet are the $175,000 Endeavour Stakes (G3) and the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3) both taking place on February 3rd. With the Kentucky Derby in mind- the running of the $250,000 dollar, Grade 3, Sam F. … Continue reading Tampa Bay Downs Open
The Grade 3, $400,000 dollar Tampa Bay Derby is Saturday. It is the second of two official prep races at Tampa Bay Downs on the road to the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/16-mile race has a full field of twelve 3-year-olds who will compete for the 50-20-15-10-5 points that go to the top five finishers that are eligible. Here’s a look at those entrants. 1. LORD … Continue reading Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby ?
The Road to the Kentucky Derby heads south this Saturday to Tampa Bay Downs, which hosts the $400,000, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. In addition to the lucrative purse, this 1 1/16-mile race has a total of 100 Derby qualifying points up for grabs, with 50 going to the Winner, 20 to 2nd, 15 to 3rd, 10 to 4th, and 5 to 5th. The Tampa Bay Derby was first held in … Continue reading The Tampa Bay Derby
Saturday’s $400,000, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs is an important prep for qualifying points prep for the 2022 Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/16-mile race on the dirt track offers 85 total points to help gain a spot in the starting gate on May 7 at Churchill Downs, distributed to the top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis. The contest is listed as … Continue reading Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby?
The Road to the Kentucky Derby heads south on Saturday to Tampa Bay Downs, which hosts the $400,000 dollar, Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. This 1 1/16-mile race offers a total of 85 Derby qualifying points, with 50 going to the Winner, 25 to 2nd, 10 to 3rd, and 5 to 4th. The Tampa Bay Derby was first held in 1981. It was a Grade 3 event from 1984 … Continue reading History Of The Tampa Bay Derby
A field of twelve 3-year-olds are scheduled to go in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs competing for their share of the $250,000 purse. The top four finishers get qualifying points (10-4-2-1) in this 1 & 1/16 mile Kentucky Derby prep race. The race is listed as race 10 on a card of 11 with a scheduled Post Time 4:45. Here then is … Continue reading Who Wins The Sam F. Davis?
The Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs is the Florida racetrack’s traditional prep for the Tampa Bay Derby and has become an increasingly important winter prep for the Kentucky Derby. The Sam F. Davis, contested at 1 1/16 miles over Tampa Bay Downs’ main dirt track, earned Grade 3 status in 2009. The race was not initially included in Churchill Downs’ Road to … Continue reading The Sam F. Davis
Tampa Bay Downs had live racing on Sunday December 26th, the day after Christmas. That’s welcome news for families, tourists and bettors seeking to enjoy an exciting weekend afternoon of Thoroughbred action or just soak up sunshine and atmosphere at the Florida track. While a Sunday spent handicapping by the rail and watching kids toss Frisbees in the Backyard Picnic Area seems commonplace, it wasn’t … Continue reading Sundays At Tampa
