What Tampa Bay Downs does

Tampa Bay Downs is a privately held, over-100-year-old (founded 1926) thoroughbred racing and multi-venue entertainment facility located in Oldsmar/Tampa, Florida. It is the only Thoroughbred track on Florida's west coast, operating live racing four days per week (Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays) from November through May, with year-round simulcast wagering from tracks across the country in the off-season. The company serves horse racing enthusiasts, poker players, golfers, group event organizers, and online horseplayers through a diversified portfolio: live racing, The Silks Poker Room, and The Downs Golf Practice Facility (ranked among the Top 50 Stand Alone Ranges), supported by a multi-channel marketing operation.

The business is built on a pari-mutuel wagering platform with take-out rates of 17% (Win/Place/Show) to 25.9% (Trifecta/Superfecta), accessible on-site, via simulcast, and online through NYRA Bets and MBET. Ancillary revenue streams include general admission ($3, free Wednesdays), special event admission (Tampa Bay Derby Day $15, Kentucky Derby Day $10), premium seating (box seats $100, Champions Row $15, Veranda $20, Garden Suite $10), dining across multiple venues (Cutwater Cantina, Grandstand Grill, The Silks Bar & Grille), private instruction and youth camps at the golf facility, and group/corporate event rentals. The Club loyalty program, handicapping content (Tip Sheets, Ren's Picks), and three handicapping contests (Festivus, Live It Up Challenge, High Rollers) form a recurring engagement layer.

Technology infrastructure relies on third-party integrations rather than proprietary AI: Equibase for racing data, NYRA Bets and MBET for online wagering, Eventbrite for event ticketing, PokerAtlas for poker room discovery, and WeatherAPI.com for weather. The 2026 announced renovation of the golf facility will add Top Tracer Range technology. Revenue is not disclosed; the company is privately held with 51–100 employees and no external funding or parent company identified.

Name

Tampa Bay Downs

Legal name

Tampa Bay Downs

Website

https://tampabaydowns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tampa Bay Downs is a 100-year-old privately held thoroughbred racing and entertainment facility in Tampa, Florida, offering live racing, simulcast wagering, The Silks Poker Room, and The Downs Golf Practice Facility to racing fans, poker players, golfers, and group event customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horse Racing Track

NAICS

Other Gambling Industries (713290), Casinos (except Casino Hotels) (71321)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations (MPAEADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cardrooms & Poker Rooms (Land-Based) (MPAEAAAG)

Keywords

• Thoroughbred horse racing
• Simulcast wagering
• Live poker tournaments
• Golf practice facility
• Horse racing entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Live Racing Admission: Admission fees for live racing events, with general admission at $3 (free on Wednesdays), special event pricing for Tampa Bay Derby Day ($15) and Kentucky Derby Day ($10)
2. Pari-Mutuel Wagering: Horse racing uses pari-mutuel betting where bettors compete against each other. The track takes a percentage (take-out) from each pool, ranging from 17% for Win/Place/Show to 25.9% for Trifecta/Superfecta
3. Poker Operations: The Silks Poker Room generates revenue from poker games, tournaments, and promotions
4. Golf Practice Facility: Revenue from golf practice facility including driving range, private instruction, camps (Junior Golf Summer Camp at $140/session), and equipment rentals
5. Food & Beverage: Multiple dining options including concessions (Grandstand Grill, Finish Line Favorites, Metro Deli, Clubhouse Turn, Clubhouse Café & Bar), table service (The Silks Bar & Grille, Sports Gallery Dining Room, Champion's Row), and drinks venues (Riders Up, Legends Bar)
6. Premium Seating & Events: Revenue from cabana rentals, box seats, veranda seating, champions row, garden suites, and special event rentals including Kentucky Derby Day celebrations and Tampa Bay Derby Day
7. Online Wagering: Online wagering through NYRA Bets and MBET platforms with promotional codes (e.g., MATCH200 for up to $200 deposit match)
8. The Club Loyalty Program: Player rewards program where members earn points through wagering that can be redeemed for prizes including complimentary programs, admission, mutuel vouchers, valet parking, and box seats

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Tampa Bay Downs operates a multi-venue entertainment facility centered on live thoroughbred horse racing from November through May, four days per week. The complex also houses The Silks Poker Room with tournaments and cash games, The Downs Golf Practice Facility with over 40 hitting areas, multiple dining venues, premium seating options, and year-round simulcast wagering. Online wagering is enabled through partnerships with NYRA Bets and MBET.

Product overview

Tampa Bay Downs is a horse racing track offering a multi-platform entertainment experience centered on live thoroughbred horse racing during the November-May season. The company operates three core business lines: (1) Live Thoroughbred Horse Racing and Simulcast Wagering, including The Club player rewards program and online wagering via NYRA Bets and MBET; (2) The Silks Poker Room offering live poker games and tournaments; and (3) The Downs Golf Practice Facility with Top Tracer Range technology. Supporting products include Tip Sheets and Ren's Picks handicapping services, three handicapping contests (Festivus, Live It Up Challenge, High Rollers), multiple dining venues, cabana rentals, and group event planning services. The company uses Equibase for racing data and Eventbrite for event ticketing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Silks Poker Room: Live poker room located on the third floor of Tampa Bay Downs, offering tournaments, cash games, and promotions for serious players and beginners.
• The Club

Products and services

• Live Thoroughbred Horse Racing Live thoroughbred horse racing during the racing season (November through May), featuring competitive fields, stakes races, and race day events including Kentucky Derby Day and Tampa Bay Derby Day. Open to the general public with daily admission.
• Simulcast Wagering Year-round simulcast wagering allowing bettors to watch and wager on races from tracks across the country, available during live racing season and off-season.
• The Silks Poker Room Live poker room located on the third floor offering cash games and tournaments for serious players and beginners alike.
• The Downs Golf Practice Facility Golf practice facility featuring over 40 hitting areas, two full-size chipping areas, and a full-size putting green. Ranked as a Top 50 Stand Alone Range. Open 7 days a week weather permitting. Top Tracer Range technology is being added through a 2026 renovation.
• Pari-Mutuel Wagering Platform Complete pari-mutuel wagering system with multiple bet types including Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Super High-5, Pick-3, Pick-4, Pick-5, Pick-6, Daily Double, and Ultimate 6. Minimum wagers from $0.10.
• The Club (Player Rewards Program) Player rewards program where members earn points on every bet placed, redeemable for racing programs, admission passes, mutuel vouchers, parking, and box seats.
• Tip Sheets Racing handicapping information provided by handicappers, updated approximately 1 hour before post time on race days. Includes PDF downloads of past tip sheets.
• Ren's Picks Handicapping analysis and picks by Ren Carothers, a racing host and analyst with equine and broadcast background, covering win, place, and show selections.
• 10 Days of Festivus Online Handicapping Contest Online handicapping contest running December 5-24, testing skills against the best handicappers in the nation with a $1,000 prize for the winner.
• Live It Up Challenge Free online handicapping competition running January 17 - March 7, 2026, featuring daily Challenge Races, lifelines, and cash prizes.
• High Rollers Handicapping Contest Premium handicapping contest on February 20-21, 2026 with $1,000 entry fee, $20,000 first prize (based on 100 players), and seats to the NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.
• Junior Golf Summer Camp Kids golf camp for ages 6-14, running Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-12:00 PM from June-August 2026. Includes group and 1-on-1 instruction, rental clubs, snacks, pizza party, and prizes.
• Group Sales and Event Planning Post Time Events group sales for organizing private events, cabana rentals, box seats, and corporate or group outings at the track.
• Dining Services Multiple dining options including Cutwater Cantina, Grandstand Grill, Finish Line Favorites, Post Time Favorites, Metro Deli, Clubhouse Turn, Clubhouse Café & Bar, The Silks Bar & Grille, Sports Gallery Dining Room, Champion's Row, Riders Up, and Legends Bar.
• Cabanas (Premium Seating Rentals) Exclusive covered cabana rentals offering private outdoor seating with up-close race day atmosphere for groups and events.
• Private Golf Instruction Bookable private golf instruction sessions at the Downs Golf Practice Facility.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYRA BetscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNYRA Bets is the Official Wagering Partner of Tampa Bay Downs. They provide online wagering platform where customers can bet any track, anywhere, any time. Tampa Bay Downs promotes NYRA Bets with promotional code MATCH200 offering up to $200 deposit match for new users.
• EquibasecoreTechnology or IntegrationEquibase provides comprehensive racing data including entries, results, race charts, stats search, past performances, and workout information. Tampa Bay Downs integrates Equibase content for scratches & changes, finish photos, and condition books.
• HBPA (Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe HBPA is a partner organization representing the interests of horse owners and trainers. They are listed as a partner on Tampa Bay Downs website supporting the horsemen community.
• BudweiserminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBudweiser is listed as a partner/sponsor of Tampa Bay Downs, supporting the racing venue as King of Beers.
• MBETcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMBET is an online wagering partner allowing remote customers to fund accounts and wager on live racing from Tampa Bay Downs and other tracks.
• EventbriteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEventbrite is the third-party ticketing platform used by Tampa Bay Downs for special promotional events, handling secure payment processing for event tickets and premium seating.
• PokerAtlasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPokerAtlas is listed as a partner for The Silks Poker Room, providing poker room directory listing and reviews.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Churchill Downs Incorporated: Churchill Downs operates the iconic Kentucky Derby host track and a portfolio of regional racing properties (including Exacta/TwinSpires), competing nationally for thoroughbred racing audiences and wagering handle that Tampa Bay Downs also targets.
• Keeneland Association: Keeneland is a renowned Kentucky thoroughbred racetrack and sales company with seasonal race meets and simulcast operations, closely comparable in product offering and customer base.
• Gulfstream Park: Gulfstream Park is Florida's other major thoroughbred racetrack located in Hallandale Beach, directly competing for Florida racing fans, simulcast handle, and horseplayers with Tampa Bay Downs.
• Fair Grounds Race Course: Fair Grounds is a New Orleans-based thoroughbred racetrack with extended winter racing season and on-site slots/gaming, comparable to Tampa Bay Downs in live racing and simulcast operations.
• Pimlico Race Course: Pimlico is a Maryland thoroughbred racetrack home to the Preakness Stakes, operating seasonal live racing and simulcast wagering with similar economic model to Tampa Bay Downs.
• Santa Anita Park: Santa Anita is a major US thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California with seasonal racing, simulcast, and on-site hospitality — a directly comparable seasonal racing entertainment venue.
• Del Mar Thoroughbred Club: Del Mar is a seasonal California thoroughbred racetrack operating a summer meet with on-site hospitality, dining, and wagering — structurally analogous to Tampa Bay Downs' seasonal racing model.
• The New York Racing Association (NYRA): NYRA operates Belmont Park, Saratoga, and Aqueduct thoroughbred racing and is Tampa Bay Downs' Official Wagering Partner via NYRA Bets; they compete indirectly for national horseplayer wagering share.

Regional players

• Sam Houston Race Park: Sam Houston is a Texas-based thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack with simulcast and entertainment amenities — comparable regional-scale multi-venue racing and entertainment facility, though serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Stronach Group (1/ST RACING): The Stronach Group operates a portfolio of major US thoroughbred tracks including Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, and Laurel Park — a broad incumbent competitor with multi-property scale advantages versus Tampa Bay Downs' single asset.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TampaBayDownsFL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC283mFZQdF5R1N3-XErLcNg
• Facebookfacebook.com/TampaBayDownsFL
• Instagraminstagram.com/tampabaydowns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tampa Bay Downs