The American SetESMARK Boosts the Tampa Bay Derby Purse to $500,000
The GIII Tampa Bay Derby will run for a $500,000 purse in 2027, a $100,000 increase over the 2026 renewal. The added money comes courtesy of ESMARK, the race's sponsor, deepening its commitment to the Florida stakes fixture. The increase lifts a race that already carries Grade III standing among the sport's official black-type events. For the connections who send horses to Tampa Bay each winter, the extra purse raises the stakes for a graded win.
With reporting from Thoroughbred Daily News.