*Uncovering Florida is in no way affiliated with Tampa Bay Downs and receives no revenue from visitor purchases.* They are bred for athleticism, display grit and finesse, and can gallop as fast as the speed limit in your city. They are thoroughbreds. See them in action live at the Tampa Bay Downs for Festival Day 44 on March 9. Being considered the biggest racing day of the Downs’ season, this race will feature some of the three year old Triple Crown candidate thoroughbreds. It is the 44th edition of the $400,000, Grade III Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. There will also be $1million in stakes just from the purses. Tickets for Festival Day 44 start at $15 for general admission, $30 for second floor seating, and $50 for second floor seating in the Downs’ clubhouse. See additional details here. Betting on the racehorses is also available at the mutuel windows, which open at 12:00 p.m. A beginner’s guide to betting and a wagering guide is available on the Downs’ website here and here, respectively. Between December and April, the Downs typically schedules live races on about four days per week. General admission is $3 per person Friday through Sunday and free on Wednesdays. The Downs opens at 11:00 a.m. and, unless otherwise specified, the first race of the day usually starts at 12:15 p.m. A race-day program can be purchased for an additional $2.50, valet parking goes for $10, and general daily parking is free. Some of the Downs’ other regular attractions include golfing at The Downs Golf Practice Facility and poker at the Silks Poker Room. The Downs also offers a variety of onsite dining options including table service and concessions. Originally founded under the name Tampa Downs by Kentucky Colonel Matt J. Winn, a National Museum of Racing Hall of Famer, Tampa Bay Downs has been in the business since 1926. The Downs has undergone a variety of tribulations since then, including getting taken over by the United States Army in 1943 to be used as a jungle warfare training camp during World War II and a fire that destroyed the Grandstand in 1968. Regardless of what it has been through, the Tampa Bay Downs of today continues to pride itself on high-quality horse racing, just as it did 98 years ago. As such, the Downs has firm rules and policies in place for the horsemen intending to stable and race their horses there. The stall application posted to the Downs’ website exemplifies this. In part, it states that the shavings used in the horses’ stalls must follow the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), describes strict rules regarding cleanliness on the allocated horse washing pads, and explains that failure to adhere to the Downs’ policies will result in fines and possible expulsion from the grounds. Uncovering Florida spoke with Tampa Bay Down’s Vice President of Marketing Margo Flynn, who let us know that although Tampa Bay Downs does not own any of the racehorses, it has extensive rule books regarding animal welfare policies that the horse owners have to follow. Tampa Bay Downs is also accredited under the HISA Program. HISA, or the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, oversees the rules protecting racehorses nationwide in the United States. This organization operates as a private and self-regulated entity under the authorization of Congress to develop rules related to horse racing. HISA’s rules center around issues such as anti-doping, medication control, and general safety on the racetrack. HISA is overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is responsible for granting approval on any rules proposed by HISA, and opens up a proposed rule to the general public for commentary before approving it. Any violations cited by HISA can also be appealed to the FTC for review by both an administrative law judge and the FTC. So far this year, HISA has enforced six violations of its rules at Tampa Bay Downs. Each of the violations were made by different private parties, none of them were committed by Tampa Bay Downs, and all of them were classified as crop violations. Only two of the violations directly involved a horse. Tampa Bay Downs seems to cross its “t”s and dot its “i”s when it comes to thoroughbred welfare, so if you want to go experience Festival Day 44, do so knowing that HISA will be watching. Article by Ema Tibbetts
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