Tampa Bay Downs has released its stakes schedule, which consists of 24 races worth $3,535,000 in purse money. The track’s showcase race has a new sponsor, with the Grade III, $400,000 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby for 3-year-old Kentucky Derby prospects highlighting the Festival Day 46 card on Saturday, March 7.
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Esmark is a diversified, privately-held family company with a portfolio of industrial companies with strong roots in the steel industry. Over the years, Esmark has diversified its interests and operations into a number of businesses engaged in the industrial and commodity sectors, focusing on several key industries including steel services, oil and gas exploration, aviation, real estate, business services, technology and sports management.
Tampa Bay Derby HIghlight of Meet
The ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby is one of five stakes on the Festival Day 46 card, along with the Grade II, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares on the turf; the Grade III, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf; the Grade III, $125,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes for older horses; and the $125,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf.
The track’s other graded stakes, both on Jan. 31 on the turf, are the Grade III, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes for older horses and the Grade III, $175,000 Endeavour Stakes for older fillies and mares.
Lambholm South, which had sponsored the Tampa Bay Derby since 2016, has shifted its stakes sponsorship to Sunday, March 29 – Florida Cup Day – and the $110,000 Lambholm South Sophomore Turf for 3-year-olds.
A new Florida Cup Day sponsor is the AAA Feed & Tack Store, a Tampa Bay Downs fixture on the backside since 1976. Owned and operated by Jerry Porrello and his wife Nancy, the business will sponsor the $110,000 AAA Feed & Tack Turf Classic for older horses.
The first stakes Saturday of the meet is Dec. 6, featuring the $125,000 Inaugural Stakes for 2-year-olds and the $125,000 Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
Click here for the Tampa Bay Downs stakes calendar.
Florida Breds Receive Purse Boost
Florida-bred horses will compete for an additional $1-million in purse money during the upcoming 2025-26 Tampa Bay Downs meet, the track’s 100th anniversary season.
The increase brings the total of additional purse money available for registered Sunshine State products to more than $2-million during the 90-day meet. The money will be allocated to all overnight races, with as much as an extra $21,000 (plus $2,000 in Florida Owner Awards) available for Florida-breds in maiden special weight and allowance races.
“We’re delighted this money has become available,” said Allison De Luca, the track’s Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. “It’s a significant boost for Florida-breds and should help (increase) entries.”
The money will be paid to all Florida-bred horses finishing first, second or third in overnight races on a 70-20-10-percent basis. Florida-breds will be running for $55,000-$56,500 in all maiden special weight and allowance races.
