SUMMER FESTIVAL RETURNS TO DELIGHT RACING FANS, FUN-SEEKERS

By Mike Henry —-

OLDSMAR, FL. – Two days of excitement-packed Thoroughbred racing provide the backdrop for a full weekend of entertainment – including the highly popular Corgi races – during the sixth annual Summer Festival of Racing and Music on Saturday and Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs.

A full slate of activity Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m. with eight races. The card officially concludes the 2017-2018 meeting. Sunday’s Thoroughbred action at 12:30 p.m. marks the official first day of the 2018-2019 meeting, which is expected to resume in late November.

Casual fans can enjoy a full day of fun Saturday, with a seafood festival featuring crawfish from 5-9 p.m. and musical entertainment supplied by The Super Stars and The Black Honkeys beginning at 5:30 p.m.

For the second consecutive year, the Summer Festival of Racing and Music will feature Corgi racing, with nine heats involving the agile, athletic (and cute) dogs vying for supremacy.

The Corgi races are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Admission on Saturday is $5, with children getting in free and no charge for parking. Admission is free Sunday.

Throughout the two days of Thoroughbred action, riders will compete in the $5,000 Jockeys’ Challenge, with points awarded based on their finish in each race. The high-scoring jockey during the weekend will receive $2,500, with $1,500 to the runner-up and $1,000 to the third-place finisher.