The Tampa Bay Stakes is a
Grade III American
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...
for horses four years old or older, run over a distance of miles on the
turf
Sod, also known as turf, is the upper layer of soil with the grass growing on it that is often harvested into rolls.
In Australian and British English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricult ...
held annually in early February at
Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs is an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility located in Westchase in Hillsborough County in the U.S. state of Florida, just outside Tampa. It opened in 1926 under the name Tampa Downs, and has also been known as Sunshine P ...
,
Oldsmar, Florida
Oldsmar is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 13,591. The Oldsmar name dates to April 12, 1916 when automobile pioneer Ransom E. Olds purchased of land by the northern part of Ta ...
. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.
History
The race was inaugurated in 9 April 1985 and was run on the dirt track over a distance of 6 furlongs.
[ The following year the race was not held.]Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, ...
and Budweiser
Budweiser () is an American-style pale lager, part of AB InBev. Introduced in 1876 by Carl Conrad & Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, Budweiser has become a large selling beer company in the United States.
''Budweiser'' may also refer to an unrela ...
and was renewed at a new distance of miles on the dirt track.[ Budweiser terminated its sponsorship in 1996 and this affected the stakes of the event. The Breeders' Cup also removed their sponsorship but much later in 2006.]turf
Sod, also known as turf, is the upper layer of soil with the grass growing on it that is often harvested into rolls.
In Australian and British English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricult ...
was in 1999.Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's incepti ...
starting as the overwhelming 1/5on favorite.[
]
Records
Speed record:
* miles – 1:39.65 Legs Galore (1999)
Margins:
* lengths – Delay of Game (2000)
Most wins:
* 2 – Gallant Mel (1989, 1991)
* 2 – Lord John (1992, 1993)
* 2 – Delay of Game (2000, 2001)
* 2 – Burning Roma (2003, 2004)
* 2 – Inspector Lynley (2017, 2019)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Ricardo D. Lopez (1989, 1990, 1991)
* 3 – William T. Henry (1993, 1995, 1999)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – George R. Arnold II (2000, 2001, 2010)
* 3 – Claude R. McGaughey III (2016, 2017, 2019)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – D. Edwards & M. W. Mitchell (1989, 1991)
* 2 – John E. Callaway (1992, 1993)
* 2 – John H. Peace (2000, 2001)
* 2 – Harold L. Queen (2003, 2004)
* 2 – Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable
Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps (September 18, 1940 – April 6, 2016) was an American financier, Thoroughbred racehorse industry executive, and horse breeder. Widely known by the nickname "Dinny," he was chairman of the family's Bessemer Trust until ...
(2017, 2019)
* 2 – WinStar Farm
WinStar Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farm near Versailles, Kentucky, owned by Kenny Troutt. It won the 2010 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner and 2016 Outstanding Breeder. WinStar Farm owned 2018 Triple Crown ...
(2011, 2023)
Winners
''Legend:''
See also
*List of American and Canadian Graded races
The List of American and Canadian Graded races is a list of Thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada that meet the graded stakes standards maintained by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders ...
References
{{reflist, 2
Graded stakes races in the United States
Grade 3 stakes races in the United States
Recurring sporting events established in 1985
Turf races in the United States
Sports competitions in Tampa, Florida
1985 establishments in Florida