COMMEMORATING TAMPA BAY DOWNS

On 2026-04-30, Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) delivered a floor speech titled "COMMEMORATING TAMPA BAY DOWNS" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, foreign policy.

COMMEMORATING TAMPA BAY DOWNS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E399] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] COMMEMORATING TAMPA BAY DOWNS ______ HON. KATHY CASTOR of florida in the house of representatives Thursday, April 30, 2026 Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Tampa Bay Downs, in celebration of its 100th year of Thoroughbred Racing in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Downs was built in Oldsmar, Florida, by Ransom Eli Olds, who created the Oldsmobile and developed the area of Oldsmar. Ownership passed to the West Coast Jockey Club, which opened the track and held its first race on February 18, 1926. In the early days, Tampa Bay Downs faced economic hardship due to the Great Depression and World War II. During the war, the U.S. Army took over the track, which served as a jungle-warfare training facility for troops preparing to fight overseas. By the end of World War II, a renewed interest in Thoroughbred racing developed and Tampa Bay Downs underwent new ownership by Tampa attorneys Milo Vega and Frank Hobbs. In the early 1950s, legendary sportswriters who frequented the area to cover baseball's spring training spent their days off at the racetrack. Renowned writer Grantland Rice began referring to the Downs as the Santa Anita of the South, a comparison taken with great pride in racing circles. As the Tampa Bay region continued to grow, the racetrack produced two remarkable young female jockeys who trained and won their first races at the Downs. Diane Crump, from Oldsmar, was the first professional female jockey in America. She was the first woman to ride in a pari- mutuel race in 1969 and, a year later, the first female jockey to race in the Kentucky Derby. Julie Krone, who lived with her grandparents in New Port Richey while an apprentice jockey, went on to have over 3,700 career wins and be the first female jockey inducted into the prestigious National Museum of Horse Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York. Under the present ownership of Stella Ferguson Thayer and her brother, Howell Ferguson, who took the reins in 1986, Tampa Bay Downs has become a steadfast institution in the Tampa Bay region with an ever-growing stakes schedule and a commitment to giving back to the community. Stewards uphold integrity and fair competition to provide transparency in decisions made during the racing events. Few embody that commitment more than Charlie Miranda, one of Tampa City Council's longest-serving members and a steward for more than four decades. Charlie Miranda has helped champion a family-friendly environment for guests of all ages for generations to come. The jockeys, trainers, and dedicated employees are the pillars that support the continued movement for thoroughbred racing to thrive in the Tampa Bay area. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Tampa Bay Downs for a century of contributions to the racing industry and for being a destination for neighbors and visitors alike. Tampa Bay Downs has grown from a humble racetrack into a century of tradition built on speed, champions and cherished memories. ____________________