Stakes Histories

How Does Tampa Bay Downs Name Its Stakes?

The Naming of Tampa Bay Downs Stakes

The names of some stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs have obvious origins: the (Lambholm South) Tampa Bay Derby, the Florida Cup Races, and so forth. The Florida Oaks is named as such simply because races for 3-year-old fillies run at classic distances are all referred to as “Oaks;” the male divisions run under the much more widely recognized “Derby” headings. The Florida Cup is comprised of six races restricted to Florida-breds. The Turf Dash earned its name from the fact that it is a short race run on the lawn. However, some of the stakes races run at Tampa Bay Downs leave patrons scratching their heads and wondering, “Now, where did that name come from?” The explanations are quite simple…

Local Color

The Pelican Stakes and Sandpiper Stakes are both named after birds common to the Tampa Bay area; the Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Stakes are named for the counties surrounding Tampa Bay Downs. The Lightning City Stakes is named after the widespread, albeit unproven, idea that Tampa Bay is the lightning capital of the world. The Suncoast Stakes is named for the region of Florida in which Tampa Bay Downs is located; with year-round sunny weather, horsemen are happy to return to Tampa each winter for Thoroughbred racing. The Minaret Stakes gets its name from the spires found at the University of Tampa.

Space Race

The Challenger, Columbia and Endeavour Stakes are named after space shuttles that have launched in previous years.

Friends from the Past

The Chris Thomas Turf Classic, which was discontinued after the 2009 running, and returned in 2017 with its original name, the Columbia Stakes, was named for the late sports-talk radio host and Thoroughbred owner who used to frequent the Oldsmar oval. The Sam F. Davis Stakes was named after the former Tampa Bay Downs President who helped the track regain financial stability and brought in a period of growth for the track.

Florida Fun

The Gasparilla Stakes is named for Tampa’s annual Gasparilla Fest, which celebrates the spirit of legendary pirate Jose Gaspar. It is rumored that Gaspar defected from the Spanish Navy in 1873. Gaspar took the pirate name “Gasparilla” and set up his den off of Florida’s west coast, allegedly plundering vessels in the Gulf of Mexico for 38 years.*

Lovely Lass

The Wayward Lass Stakes is the only stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs named after a horse. Wayward Lass, who was the 1981 Eclipse Award-winning 3-yearold filly, was bred in Florida by Hall of Fame trainer Horatio Luro, but she never raced at Tampa Bay Downs.