BY STEVE KOCH
Tampa Bay Downs’ 2025-2026 race meet, the track’s 100th anniversary season, offers substantial earning opportunities for eligible Florida-bred runners. The first condition book, running Nov. 19 through Dec. 24, dedicates 25% of total purses to Florida-bred incentives, funded by the Florida Owners Awards (FOA) program and the new Tampa Bay Downs/HBPA/Florida Fund.
Allowance, allowance optional claiming and maiden special weight races offer the strongest incentives, with $23,000 – approximately 40% of each purse – allocated exclusively to Florida-bred competitors.
The incentive structure extends throughout the claiming ranks, with upper-level claiming races allocating approximately 20% to Florida-breds, mid-level claiming races allocating 11%-16%, and starter and starter optional claiming races allocating 14%-21%.
The first condition book culminates on Dec. 6 with two $125,000 stakes – the Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and the Inaugural Stakes for 2-year-olds. Each stakes race includes $25,000 from the TBD/HBPA/FL Fund, representing 20% of the guaranteed purse.
According to an early August track announcement, the 90-day meet will distribute Florida-bred purse allocations among the top three finishers in overnight races: 70% to the winner, 20% to second place, and 10% to third place.
The enhanced Florida-bred program is made possible through the state’s 2025 budget, which allocated a $1.5 million to Tampa Bay Downs and $6 million to Gulfstream Park specifically for Florida-bred purse incentives. The funding represents a shift in how state resources support Florida breeding, with dollars now flowing directly to purses rather than through industry organizations.
The reallocation appears to have discontinued two stakes races that had been annual fixtures at Tampa Bay Downs in early December: the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala and the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Marion County, both historically funded solely by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. The beloved Gil Campbell, an October tilt for Florida-bred 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park has similarly lapsed.
“We’re pleased to see industry-leading purse incentives for Florida-breds throughout the Tampa Bay condition book. Even better, the $6 million at Gulfstream Park should have visible effects and we look forward to news on how those dollars will be implemented,” FTBOA Administrative Vice President Steve Koch said. “We are, of course, very disappointed that the tracks and horsemen have elected not to continue the Marion County, City of Ocala and the Gil Campbell, which had become important fixtures on the racing calendar for Florida-bred contenders.”
For Tampa Bay Downs condition book inquiries and race requests, owners and trainers should contact the Tampa Bay Downs racing office or the Tampa Bay Downs HBPA. Entries for the opening day card close Nov. 14.
Return to the October 1 issue of Wire to Wire
