It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No, not the holidays, but live Thoroughbred racing at Tampa Bay Downs! That’s right, starting Saturday, November 26th, 2016, the 2016-2017 meeting resumes and we for one are thankful for the fun, winnings, and spectacle that is a day well spent at the Downs.

Tampa Bay Downs is a premier multi-entertainment facility located in West Tampa at 11225 Racetrack Road, in Tampa. They have everything! If you’re into horse racing, they totally have that! If you’re into poker, they have that too, and parking is FREE at Silks Poker Room (read more about the Thanksgiving Poker Tournament where you could win $40,000 in Win Your Seat at The Silks Thanksgiving Poker Tournament )

How about some golf? The Downs Golf Practice Facility is a 22-acre complex which features a wide array of amenities including 45 all-Bermuda grass hitting stations, two full-size chipping greens, an 8000-square foot putting green and a covered range area. Tampa Bay Downs also features a dining room that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as several bars to quench your thirst while watching the race.

Tampa Bay Downs opened in 1926 under the name Tampa Downs. That means their facility has been bringing you live horse racing and more for 90 years! That’s pretty incredible. Tampa Bay Downs is also filled with rich history. Did you know that in 1981, Julie Krone (who was 17 and an apprentice jockey at the time) got her first career victory there on Lord Farkle (that is an absolutely ridiculous and wonderful name for a horse) and now she sits in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame!

Tampa Bay Downs is open 7 days a week from 8:30AM - 7:00PM. Admission during the weekdays is free, and during the weekends, it’s only $2! They also can accommodate groups and host events! You can plan anything from a party to a wedding at Tampa Bay Downs! For more information about the races coming up and for days live racing happens, check out Tampa Bay Downs website by clicking the link to their website from their 813area business page. On the website, make sure to sign up for their newsletter located at the bottom of the page to stay up to date on all the happenings at Tampa Bay Downs, and don’t forget to check out Opening Day on November 26th!