Live it up at the Downs!

Frequently Asked Questions

WHERE IS TAMPA BAY DOWNS LOCATED?

Tampa Bay Downs is located at 11225 Race Track Rd. in Tampa, Fl., less than a mile north of the intersection of State Road 580 and Race Track Road. For detailed directions, visit www.tampabaydowns.com on the Internet and click “Visitor Information.”

HOW LONG IS THE TAMPA BAY DOWNS MEETING?

Tampa Bay Downs racing season began on July 1 and runs through June 30 (the traditional seasonal meeting runs from late Nov. through early May). Tampa Bay Downs’ season runs 89 days.

HOW DO I MAKE RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS?

Call the Skye Terrace Dining Room at 813-855-4401, ext. 1315 or for a more casual meal, the Sports Gallery at 813-855-4401, ext. 1257. Click here for all dining options.

WHEN SHOULD I GET TO THE TRACK?

For the best seating, it is recommended that you get to the track early, especially on Giveaway Days! Admission gates open at 11 a.m. On Festival Day, gates open at 10 a.m. If you wish to get to the track earlier, consider the Morning Glory Club on Saturdays at Tampa Bay Downs, beginning after Christmas and continuing through Festival Day. This is a unique opportunity to watch the horses’ morning workouts, while enjoying delicious free coffee and donuts from 10-11 a.m. and visiting with track announcer Richard Grunder and his guests.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

If you are just coming to hang out in the Grandstand (the main area) or on the lawns near the paddock, we recommend comfortable shoes and casual clothing. Hats are always fun and in the spirit of the track. Shoes and shirts are always required. For Box Seats, gentlemen are asked to wear slacks and shirts (ties are not required but requested). Women are asked to wear dresses, skirts or slack outfits. For the Clubhouse and Skye Terrace Restaurant, proper attire is required at the discretion of management. Absolutely no shorts, tank-tops, cut-offs or other abbreviated wear. Ladies Capri's must be well below the knees and Gentlemen must wear a collared shirt. Feel free to call 813-855-4401 you’re your dress code questions.

ARE COOLERS PERMITTED?

You CAN bring coolers if you are planning on watching the races on the lawns in the Backyard Picnic Area. You are not allowed to bring your cooler anywhere inside the building or grandstand apron. Absolutely NO glass containers. All coolers and any other carry-in items are subject to inspection by Security.

WHEN IS THE FIRST POST-TIME?

The first post-time is approximately 12:30 p.m., except on Festival Day, and Kentucky Derby Day, when the first post time is approximately noon.

IS THERE ANY AIR-CONDITIONING?

There is air-conditioning available in the Clubhouse, interior of the Grandstand and the Party Suite.

ARE THERE ANY PICNIC TABLES THAT CAN BE RESERVED AT THE TRACK?

Unfortunately, the picnic tables cannot be reserved.

WHAT ARE THE GIVEAWAYS?

There are several giveaway days (always Saturdays) throughout the Tampa Bay Downs meet each year. On these days, you are entitled to a free promotional gift with purchase of admission while supplies last. These promotions range from ball caps and T-shirts to folding chairs and coolers. Every year, there is a different lineup of giveaways.

IS THERE ANY RESERVED SEATING AVAILABLE?

If you are interested in Grandstand Box Seats, get to the track early as a limited number of these seats are available on race days. See the Box Seat Usher. For more information on reserved seats call 813-855-4401, ext. 1350.

HOW DO I CONTACT THE TRACK?

For information prior to the season, call 813-855-4401. For questions, comments or suggestions, please use our contact form by visiting our website at www.tampabaydowns.com.

HOW DO I GET A JOB?

You would need to call 813-855-4401 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or mail a request for an application to: Human Resources, P.O. Box 2007, Oldsmar, FL 34677. Or, you may visit our Employment Page on the website.

IS THERE ANY INTERNET CONNECTION AVAILABLE AT THE RACE TRACK FOR A LAPTOP COMPUTER?

Yes, there is a public wireless connection available for laptops at the track.

ARE THERE DESIGNATED HANDICAPPED SEATING AREAS, SERVICES AND PARKING?

There are specially marked areas designated for wheelchairs in the Clubhouse behind the reserved seat section. One person may accompany and sit with the handicapped person in these areas, and there is handicapped parking available at the Clubhouse. There are no motorized vehicles or scooters available for rent at the Race Track, so any desired arrangements for such services should be made separately.

IS THERE A WILL CALL BOX OFFICE WHERE I CAN LEAVE TICKETS FOR FRIENDS TO PICK UP?

Yes, there are two Will Call pick-up stations at the Trackone for the Clubhouse and one for the Grandstand. If you call 813-855-4401, ext. 1350, they can put you in touch with the Will Call ticket station you are looking for.

Glossary Of Horse Racing Terms

Across the board: A win, place and show bet on a horse. Added-money event: A race for which a certain percentage of the gate proceeds is added onto the specified purse.

Age: All race horses in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate their birthday on January 1.

Allowance: A race other than a claiming event or a stakes race for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions. Also eligible: In a full field, a horse that is an alternate in case a horse scratches or withdraws from a race.

Apprentice: A jockey who has ridden for less than a year and who receives weight allowances.

Apron: The paved area between the grandstand or clubhouse and the outer rail of the racetrack.

Backside: The racetrack's barn area.

Backstretch: The straightaway of the track opposite from the grandstand.

Bay: A color ranging from tan to dark chestnut with black mane, tail and points.

Beyer Speed Rating: A measure of a horse’s race performance, popularized by Andy Beyer of The Washington Post.

Black: Black with no brown or tan patches.

Bounce: An exceptionally poor performance on the heels of an exceptionally good one.

Box: A type of wager, usually an exacta, trifecta or superfecta, in which a bettor selects two or more horses to complete the ticket. The horses “boxed” can finish in any order for the ticket to be a winner.

Broodmare: Female horse used for breeding.

Broodmare sire: A sire whose female offspring become producers of race horses.

Bug: The asterisk (*) that denotes an apprentice jockey and their weight allowance.

Bullet: Fastest workout of the day at a particular distance. Call to the post: A special call played on a bugle used to signal the horses to the starting gate.

Chestnut: A color ranging from light gold to deep red. Also, a small, horny growth on the inside of a horse's front legs.

Claiming race: A race in which the horses are for sale at a price specified before the race. Claims are made before the race and the new owner assumes possession immediately following the race.

Clerk of Scales: An official in charge of the jockeys’ room, weights, valets, and jockeys. This individual relays objections made after the races to the stewards.

Colt: An ungelded male horse 4 years old or younger.

Condition Book: A book released by the Racing Office covering a certain number of days that lists races, distances, purses, weight allowances, claiming prices, etc., and contains other information aimed toward horsemen.

Dam: The mother of a horse.

Dark bay or brown: Brown coat with areas of tan and black points.

Dark day: Day at a racetrack when there is no racing.

Derby: A stakes race for 3-year-olds.

Distaff: A race for female horses; a distaffer is a female horse.

Driving: Strong urging by jockey.

Early foot: Good speed at the start of a race.

Entry: Two or more horses representing the same owner or trained by the same person and running together as a single betting entity.

Fast: The preferred rating for the racing surface; at its best, it is dry, firm and even.

Filly: A female horse younger than 5 years old.

Foal: A baby horse, also called a suckling; a horse is a foal from the time it is born until it is weaned from its mother.

Furlong: An eighth of a mile.

Gelding: A neutered male horse.

Gimmick bet: A wager involving more than one horse, such as an exacta, trifecta, superfecta, Pick-3, daily double, etc.

Good: A track surface that is still drying out, but is almost fast. Gray or roan: A horse with a black coat interspersed with white hairs. A gray horse is nearly always black when it is born and gets lighter in color as it ages.

Handicapping: This is the study of factors in the past performances which determine the relative qualities and abilities of horses in a race.

Handle: The sum of all wagers bet on a race or a race card. Horse: In racing, a horse is narrowly defined as any male 5 or older with genitalia intact.

Identifier: An official who makes certain before a race that a horse’s markings and lip tattoo match the information on its foal papers.

Inquiry: Official investigation of rules infraction.

Juvenile: A 2-year-old horse.

Lasix: Diuretic medication given to horses which bleed.

Length: Measure of distance based on the average length of a horse.

Maiden: A horse that hasn’t won a flat race in any country.

Mare: A female horse 5 or older.

Morning Line: The preliminary odds set by the track handicapper.

Glossary Of Horse Racing Terms

Muddy: A wet, sticky racing surface (because of its sand-andloam composition, the Tampa Bay Downs dirt track never becomes “muddy”).

Objection: A claim of foul lodged by a jockey or trainer against another horse.

Off track: A track that is not fast; also, a type of wagering offered away from the host facility.

Outrider: Riders employed by the track to catch runaway or loose horses. They are used during morning workouts and also for races.

Overlay: A horse going off at higher odds than it appears to warrant, based on past performances and other available information.

Paddock: Structure or area where horses are saddled and kept before going to the track.

Pari-mutuel: System of wagering where all the money is returned to the bettors after deduction of track and state percentages.

Parlay: Using proceeds of bet winnings from one race to wager on a subsequent race.

Ridgling: A colt or horse with one descended testicle.

Route: Any distance longer than 1 mile.

Scratch: A horse that has been withdrawn from a race.

Sealed track: A dirt track that has been packed down. Dry tracks are sealed so that water runs off the track, reducing the amount of precipitation absorbed into the surface. Wet tracks are sealed to provide a safe and even racing surface.

Silks: Jacket and cap worn by jockeys.

Sire: Father of a horse.

Sloppy: A track so saturated with rain that it has water lying on the surface.

Slow: A slow track is a muddy surface which is beginning to dry out.

Sprint: Any distance less than 1 mile.

Steward: The racetrack officials who enforce the rules of the track and determine the outcome of a race in the case of an inquiry or objection. Usually three in number, they are the officiating judges of all horse-related activity at the track.

Stallion: Male horse used for breeding purposes.

Stud: Stallion; also, a farm that is home to one or more stallions.

Turf course: Grass-covered race course.

Underlay: A horse going off at lower odds than it appears to warrant, based on past performances and other available information.

Valet: A person who helps jockeys keep their wardrobe and equipment in order. The correct pronunciation, in this usage, rhymes with mallet.

Weight: The assigned weight for a horse, including the jockey, equipment and lead weights if needed.

Weanling: A young horse that has been separated from its mother but is not yet a year old. Horses are generally weaned when they are 4-to-6 months old, and are called weanlings until they reach 1 year of age.

Wheel: A type of wager, usually an exacta, trifecta or superfecta, in which a bettor uses two or more horses in combinations with their main (“key”) selection.

Workout: Exercise session at a predetermined distance.

Yearling: A horse that is 1 year old; the birthdate of race horses in the Northern Hemisphere is January 1.

Odds and Pool Information

Odds - Win odds are posted on television monitors and the infield tote board. These odds are updated every 30-60 seconds. Note that these odds will fluctuate from the time you wager until the betting ends.

When you win, your payoff is determined by the closing odds. These are the minimum payoffs for selected odds based on a $2 wager:

Below are the prices for $2 exacta and trifecta box wagers.