Tampa Bay Downs Stakes schedule has been released to include $3,460,000 in purses across 24 stakes races. 

Festival Day will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2027. The day will highlight five stakes races, some of the most notable being the Grade 3 $500,000 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby with a $100,000 raise in purse money, courtesy of ESMARK. Festival Day also hosts the G3 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on turf, with a purse of $200,000 guaranteed. 

“We’re proud to build on the momentum of our historic centennial season with our stakes schedule, as it continues to attract top talent from across the country,” Elizabeth Swarzman, director of marketing and publicity, added. “We are honored that ESMARK has increased the Tampa Bay Derby purse by $100,000, making it our largest purse in track history.” 

ESMARK is a returning sponsor of the Tampa Bay Derby; ESMARK is a trusted leader in steel founded in 2003, and operates primarily in the aviation, industrial, steel, and energy sectors. 

Festival Day will also host the G3 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward with a guaranteed purse of $125,000, The Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf, and the G2 Hillsborough Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward on turf, with a guaranteed purse of $225,000 to close out the Stakes races for Festival Day. 

The stakes program begins on Saturday, Dec. 5, with the Inaugural Stakes, for 2-year-old boys, along with The Sandpiper Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies. 

Other stakes races in January include the Wayward Lass Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward, the Pasco Stakes for 3-year-olds, and the Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, all to be run on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027.

The two stakes races, both with a guaranteed purse of $175,000, held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2027, include the G3 Tampa Bay Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward on turf, as well as the G3 Endeavor Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward on turf. 

Tampa Bay Downs will be hosting Festival Preview Day on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027. The Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds, the Pelican Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward, and the Minaret Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upwards. Festival Preview Day will total $625,000 in guaranteed purse money. 

To close out the month of February, the Turf Dash for 4-year-olds and upward, along with the Lightning Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward on turf, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027. 

Florida Cup Day will be on Sunday, March 28, 2027, the following stakes races will be hosted:

The NYRABETS Sprint, for 4-year-olds and upward.

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore, for 3-year-olds.

The Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies, for 3-year-old fillies.

The Lambholm South Sophomore Turf, for 3-year-olds. 

The Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf, for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward. 

The AAA Feed & Tack Turf Classic, for 4-year-olds and upward.

For stall applications, please visit: https://www.tampabaydowns.com/horsemen/stall-apps/ 

Important notice for horsemen: stall applications will be due on Sept. 14, 2026, for the upcoming live-racing meet. The barn area will open on Oct. 28, with the track opening for training on Nov. 3.