Year-over-year wagering up at 2025-2026 Tampa meet
?q=100)
Total wagering and average wagering per race were both up marginally at the recently completed Tampa Bay Downs meet in Oldsmar, Fla., according to a Daily Racing Form analysis.
Total handle over the 90-day meet stretching from November to May was $382.1 million, up 1 percent over last year's handle of $378.3 million over 90 days. Tampa ran three fewer races during the 2025-2026 meet than the prior meet, and average handle per race was up 1.4 percent to $467,079 per race.
While the total number of races was down marginally, Tampa ran 29 fewer turf races during the '25-'26 meet than the previous meet, a decline of 10.9 percent. Still, field size remained steady, with 8.40 horses per race overall, compared to 8.46 horses per race at the previous meet.
Total purses increased 4.7 percent to $27.2 million, up from $26.0 million. The average purse increased 5.1 percent to $33,226, up from $31,629.
On the track, Samuel Marin ran away with the rider’s title by setting a Tampa record of 155 wins and collecting $3.43 million in purse earnings. Marin won at a rate of 25 percent.
Kathleen O’Connell and Juan Carlos Avila tied for the trainer’s title with 40 wins each. O’Connell won five races on the April 19 card for a track record and a one-day personal best.
Juan Arriagada, a local owner-trainer who was third in the trainer standings with 38 wins, won the owner’s title with 25 wins and purse earnings of $489,193.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.