Tampa Bay Downs

When we turned up to the entrance the lady noticed that my friend was a military veteran and she thanked him for his service, let us both in for free and fave my friend $2:25 to buy a program. The lady taking our bets was also very cheerful. A fun day and well worth the visit.

My first visit to Tampa Bay Downs was an absolute blast! I didn’t quite know what to expect going in, but I was immediately impressed by how organized everything was. For a first-timer, that makes a huge difference. The staff really stood out — everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. They took the time to explain how to place bets, pointed me in the right direction, and made navigating the building easy. It felt welcoming instead of overwhelming. Sitting trackside was such an exciting experience. Feeling the energy as the horses thundered past you is something you just can’t replicate on TV. I also spent some time upstairs in the covered area, and that was just as fun — a great vantage point to catch a few races while staying comfortable. I didn’t walk away with any winnings this time, but honestly, that didn’t even matter. The atmosphere, the organization, and the overall experience made it well worth it. I had a great time and will definitely be going back!

We watched the horse races and loved it!! If you haven't gone during the Kentucky Derby, I highly encourage anyone to go. Dress up, bet a little (or a lot), maybe win and have fun! Men and women were all decked out in Kentucky Derby attire!! What a blast! (And by the way I lost and STILL had fun)!

Exciting and fun afternoon at the races! The staff are exceptionally helpful and friendly and enhanced the experience. The clubhouse is clean, and was air conditioned but could use more than one person taking the bets since the lines got a bit long at times. If they had high quality food, snacks, and drinks it would be a slam dunk, and while they get a tremendous amount of people I think they could produce so much more revenue with guest who would frequent it more. There were various places to sit outside as well, and great visibility of the track.

First time attending a Derby ever! Hospitable staff and good time. However, overall facility in poor condition and unfortunately some patrons have no respect for posted smoking areas and trash disposal.