Fans who have waited patiently for Thoroughbred racing to return to Tampa Bay
Downs get their reward Wednesday with a nine-race card that marks the
continuation of the track’s 88th season.
The 91-day meeting, which officially began July 1, will be highlighted by the
richest stakes schedule in track history and the Tampa Bay Downs Million Dollar
Derby Bonus, which offers the possibility of a $100,000 payout to a lucky fan.
Post time for Wednesday’s first race is 12:30 p.m. (EST). Anyone attending
the races Wednesday will receive a pass good for free grandstand admission
throughout December.
After an off-day Thursday, Tampa Bay Downs will return to action Friday and
Saturday, with Saturday’s Cotillion Festival Day card featuring a full slate of
two-year-old racing, including the $100,000 Inaugural and the $100,000
Sandpiper, which kick off a banner stakes schedule worth more than $2.7 million.
Tampa Bay Downs will pay $1 million to the owners of any three-year-old that
wins its $250,000 Sam F. Davis on February 1; the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby on
March 8; and the Kentucky Derby on May 3.
Additionally, immediately after the Davis, the winning jockey will drawn a
name from a bin among fans who have correctly selected the winner. That fan will
become eligible to collect $100,000, should their choice go on to win the Tampa
Bay Derby and Kentucky Derby.
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