Race Tracks to Visit in Florida - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

AJanks · 09-24-2019, 09:39 PM

Hey every one!

I am going to visit Florida (outside of Tampa) on vacation from December 14th to the 23rd. I'm staying with my cousin who is a big horse racing fan like me, and we are trying to hit as many horse racing tracks, dog tracks, etc as possible.

Right now, we are planning to go to Pompano, Tampa, Gulfstream and Derby Lane, but we are trying to figure out other places to go as well. If anybody knows about any "hidden gems" that I am missing, whether it be dog tracks, horse tracks or casinos, I would appreciate you guys letting me know. It would be really interesting to check out some older, closed tracks that are still standing, whether they are shuttered or still operated as a simulcasting facility or casino.

On another note...I read about the "sham" races that they run at Hialeah, Oxford and Hamilton Downs, and while I certainly wouldn't support them financially, I thought it would be interesting to see them take place, especially at Hialeah. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any live racing dates for 2019 online, so if anybody could let me know if they find them and if they run while I will be there I would really appreciate it.

castaway01 · 09-25-2019, 09:34 AM

I actually had never heard of the barrel racing thing, so that was weird.

I would say to hit the places you mentioned. You'd be better off out west if you want to find two-day race meets with five-horse fields at out-of-the-way tracks.

RunForTheRoses · 09-25-2019, 12:16 PM

I think the only other FL track would be Ocala Training which appears to only be open 11/17.

Maybe trek to Fairgrounds , could also hit Evangeline or Delta. Looks like it would be a 9 hour drive so...

AlsoEligible · 09-25-2019, 12:55 PM

The Hialeah "races" are something to behold.

They're all match races, with the same horses running multiple times throughout the day. "Jockeys" that are really just backstretch workers.

It's the bare minimum to meet the legal definition of horse racing, so they can keep the casino going. Not sure if they're still doing it, and you probably won't find any info online because Hialeah doesn't want to advertise it all (pretty sure there's not even a video feed available).

But I'd still go to the track just for the history of it, and if you happen to catch a "race", great.

BreadandButter · 09-26-2019, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJanks

It would be really interesting to check out some older, closed tracks that are still standing, whether they are shuttered or still operated as a simulcasting facility or casino.
.

You could hit the following greyhound tracks

Closed
Melbourne
Sarasota
Hollywood
Flagler
Tampa - I think it's still there as on OTB

Soon to be closed
St. Pete
Daytona
Seminole
Naples
Palm Beach

thespaah · 09-30-2019, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreadandButter

You could hit the following greyhound tracks

Closed
Melbourne
Sarasota
Hollywood
Flagler
Tampa - I think it's still there as on OTB

Soon to be closed
St. Pete
Daytona
Seminole
Naples
Palm Beach

The Daytona Dog track has been gone for a few years now.
The track closed and was demolished to make way for a new roadway that has the sole purpose of moving traffic better for NASCAR events.
In 2018, a referendum appeared on the state's ballots that was a gambling statute. If the voters voted "yes", the referendum would make dog racing illegal in the State Of Florida.
The referendum passed. The ban takes effect in 2021
https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Amen...mendment_(2018)

BreadandButter · 10-01-2019, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thespaah

The Daytona Dog track has been gone for a few years now.
The track closed and was demolished to make way for a new roadway that has the sole purpose of moving traffic better for NASCAR events.
In 2018, a referendum appeared on the state's ballots that was a gambling statute. If the voters voted "yes", the referendum would make dog racing illegal in the State Of Florida.
The referendum passed. The ban takes effect in 2021
https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Amen...mendment_(2018)

A new track was built years ago before the old track was torn down. They ran live racing tonight.

BreadandButter · 10-01-2019, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreadandButter

You could hit the following greyhound tracks

Soon to be closed
St. Pete
Daytona
Seminole
Naples
Palm Beach

Seminole should read "Sanford". Seminole was just down the road, "Dog Track Road" from Sanford. Seminole is long gone and has been redeveloped.

Red Knave · 10-01-2019, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunForTheRoses

Maybe trek to Fairgrounds , could also hit Evangeline or Delta. Looks like it would be a 9 hour drive so...

There's also a dog track/casino in Ebro north of Panama City.

BreadandButter · 10-01-2019, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Knave

There's also a dog track/casino in Ebro north of Panama City.

That is correct - however, they ran their last ever live race on Saturday.

So if you were to drive through the panhandle you could see the closed dog tracks of Ebro, Pensacola, Jefferson and Mobile.

thespaah · 10-02-2019, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreadandButter

A new track was built years ago before the old track was torn down. They ran live racing tonight.

Yeah...I thought I had posted a mea culpa follow up post to correct myself.
I went on a search and found that the dog track was indeed closed, then a new facility was built at the southwestern end of Daytona Speedway on Williamson Rd

thespaah · 10-02-2019, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreadandButter

Seminole should read "Sanford". Seminole was just down the road, "Dog Track Road" from Sanford. Seminole is long gone and has been redeveloped.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...KTJE&fr=mcafee
In the center of the screen, you'll see an overlay of the former footprint of Seminole Raceway( Casseberry, FL).
Obviously there has been a slight( LOL) amount of redevelopment of the site