This Week at the Florida Tracks: Dec. 7 to Dec. 13

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs will resume live racing on Wednesday and continue with their regular December schedules through the end of the week.

Gulfstream will have ten Wednesday races with first post time of 12:35 p.m. It also will have racing this Thursday through Sunday with first post of 12:35 p.m. each day. It will have four stakes races on Sunday Dec. 12 (details below).

Tampa Bay Downs will have nine races on Wednesday with first post of 12:27. It also will have racing this Friday and Saturday. There will be no stakes races on any of the three days.

Tampa Bay Downs is varying its first posts, with times between 12:22 p.m. and 12:29 p.m. It is doing that to help avoid having its first race start at the exact minute as the first race at one or more other East Coast tracks.

Because entries are out on numerous web sites at least two days prior to races, regular bettors have sufficient notice of Tampa Bay’s first race post time.

(Editor’s Note: Many bettors who bet multiple tracks would like to see more tracks take steps–coordinated if possible–to avoid having two races leave the gate just seconds apart.)

Gulfstream Park

901 S. Federal Highway

Hallandale Beach, Fla. 33009

Phones — (954) 454-7000
Gulfstream Park Website

Gulfstream will have four stakes races this Saturday, all with $100,000 purses:

* Rampart (Grade 3 ) — one mile, dirt, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

* Harlan’s Holiday — 1 1/16 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds and up

* South Beach — 7 ½ furlongs, turf, fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up

* El Prado — 7 ½ furlongs, turf, 3-year-olds and up

On Wednesday afternoon, Gulfstream will release entries for its Saturday card.

Gulfstream will have racing on Wednesdays through Sundays during its winter meet that ends April 3.

In addition to live racing, Gulfstream has:

* Simulcast wagering — seven days a week with more than 30 thoroughbred and harness tracks; open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.

* Casino — the two casino rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays

* Poker — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tampa Bay Downs

11225 Race Track Road, Tampa, Florida 33626

Main Phone (813) 855-4401

Toll Free (In Florida) (866)-TBDOWNS (823-6967)
Tampa Bay Downs Website

Tampa Bay Downs will add Sunday racing on Dec. 20 and, with three exceptions, have four-day race weeks for most of its meet that will extend through next May 8.

It will have racing on Thursday Feb. 18 and Thursday Feb. 25 and be dark on Easter Sunday, March 27.

Tampa Bay Down’s first stakes races are scheduled for Dec. 19. It will have the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes for 2-year-old males and the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, each at six furlongs on dirt. Also scheduled that afternoon is the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes, for fillies and mares 3-yers-old and up at five furlongs on turf.

On days when it does not have live racing, Tampa Bay Downs is open for simulcasting and its poker room and golf range are open their regular hours.

*The Silks Poker Room hours of operation: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.

The Downs Golf Practice Facility hours of operation:

Pro Shop: 8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. daily (Last bucket sold at 7:45 p.m.)

Range: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily

Short Game Area: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily (lights out at 9:45 p.m.

This Week at the Florida Tracks: Dec. 7 to Dec. 13