Tampa Bay Downs Announces Meet's Second Purse Increase

Tampa Bay Downs has announced its second 6% purse increase of the current meet, which will take effect with the Feb. 25 card. Horsemen will be competing for an additional $1,000 per race in all overnight races (all races except stakes). The first increase, which took effect Feb. 10, also raised purse money by $1,000 a race.

The track hiked overnight purses four times during the 2020-21 meet.

"Several factors have contributed to our ability to raise purse money again for our horsemen," said Peter Berube, the track's vice president and general manager. "First and foremost is the quality product our horsemen continue to provide, which has led to an increase in wagering handle.

"Our racing office, headed by racing secretary Allison De Luca, works diligently to provide competitive races with large fields that attract bettors both on-track and from our simulcast outlets around the country. We have also enjoyed good weather much of the season, which has been reflected in our attendance figures."

Tampa handled in excess of $12.1 million on its Feb. 12 Festival Preview Day card, headlined by the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3). The figure was the seventh-largest in track history.

Track officials are optimistic the March 12 Festival Day card, which includes the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and three other graded stakes, could exceed the track record of $15,229,366 set on Festival Day last season.