The 2027 running of the GIII Tampa Bay Derby will feature a half-million dollar purse, up by $100,000 over the 2026 renewal, courtesy of the race’s sponsor ESMARK.
The Derby, which offers points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby two months later, is the focal point of the 2026-2027 stakes schedule at the Oldsmar, Florida, oval, with total purse money of $3,460,000 across 24 added-money contests.
The Tampa Bay Derby, to be run on Mar. 6, 2027, is the anchor of a five-strong stakes card on ‘Festival Day’, which also includes the $200,000 GIII Florida Oaks.
“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 feature the $125,000 GIII Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes for older dirt males; the $125,000 Columbia Stakes for sophomores on the turf; and the GIII Hillsborough Stakes for older turf fillies and mares, with purse money of $225,000.
Stakes action kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 5, with the Inaugural Stakes and the Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old males and fillies, respectively. Additional action at the graded level takes place Saturday, Jan. 30 with the running of the GIII Tampa Bay Stakes and the GIII Endeavour Stakes on the grass for both sexes.
Festival Preview Day on Feb. 6 is topped by Kentucky Derby and Oaks stepping-stones in the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Suncoast Stakes.
Stall applications for the 2026-2027 meet are due by Sept. 14. The barn area is set to open Oct. 28, with training to begin Nov. 3.