The 15th Annual Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs will be on a Sunday this year for the first time since 2004, meaning even more bay area horse racing aficionados and curious thrill-seekers will be able to join in the fun. This showcase gives Florida-bred thoroughbred racing teams a chance to compete for more than $600,000 in prize money in six stakes races, on both dirt and turf.
Beautiful Tampa Bay Downs is located at the top of the bay in Oldsmar, on the aptly named Racetrack Road. This premier multi-entertainment destination features thoroughbred racing, the Silks Poker Room , the Downs Golf Practice Facility, and various food and beverage options, such as Silks Bar and Grill and the new Riders Up! bar. The Downs also hosts weddings and other group events and can accommodate up to one thousand party goers. For more information and help planning your special event, call the Director of Group & Special Events at 813-855-4401, ext. 1386.
This year's event is sure to be a lucrative day for the winners - thanks to six generous race sponsors, the purse for each of the day's six races has been increased to $100,000 each, from $75,000 in previous years. The illustrious sponsors for Florida Day 2017 are the 14 Hands Winery, EG Vodka, the Hilton Garden Inn, the Ocala Breeders Association, Stonehedge Farm, and Pleasant Acres Stallions. 14 Hands Winery derives its name from the unit of measurement used to determine the height of wild horses that roam the hills near their headquarters in eastern Washington state. The winery is also a sponsor of the Kentucky Derby and the title sponsor of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. “As our name indicates, our brand has a very natural tie to horses and horse events,” said Rebekah Gunderson, Marketing Manager of 14 Hands Winery. “The partnership with the Florida Cup Sophomore Turf Stakes is a good way to extend the association with horse racing that we’ve already established through our sponsorship of the Kentucky Derby.”
The CEO of EG Vodka, Marty Krytus, is also very excited about his company's first foray into thoroughbred racing sponsorship, stating "We look forward to making the relationship a great success for us both and are excited to be a part of the sport of kings." EG Vodka is headquartered in Orlando and offers organic, unfiltered American vodka made at a small-batch artisan distillery using organic wheat, water from one of the nation’s most pure natural water sources, and the finest American botanicals. Be sure to try two of their finest offerings, EG Inspiration Rosemary & Lavender Vodka and EG Windsor Earl Grey Tea & Sage Vodka.
Don't miss out on this exciting world-class event right here in the Tampa Bay area, this Sunday, April 2nd, at Tampa Bay Downs! Get your tickets now by calling 813-855-4401, or visit the Tampa Bay Downs site.
