Florida Horse Racing | Horse Shows | Rocket Launches

Hotel Deals | Vacation Rentals

Florida Horse Shows

Florida's International Horse Shows

During the Winter season Florida hosts the largest horse population in the United States. Thousands of horses are transported into Florida from all over the world to show in the prestigious world class horse shows and polo matches held annually.

Show jumping, dressage, and eventing attract the best horses and riders to the Sunshine State.

Additionally, there are many horse breeding farms in Florida that produce Thoroughbred race horses and sport horses. Below you will find links to virtually every equestrian activity in Florida, from horse shows to horse racing.

Florida Polo Venues

Polo, one of the most exciting and fast moving equestrian sports, is played at several venues throughout Florida during the winter season and spring seasons. National Polo Center (Headquarters for the United States Polo Association) at Wellington, Florida, Ocala Polo Club at Florida Horse Park, Ocala, FL, Sarasota Polo Club, Sarasota, FL, Vero Beach Polo, Myakka Polo Club in Okeechobee, Florida, and the Villages Polo Club in The Villages, FL.

Some clubs such as the Ocala Polo Club play twilight matches during the summer months. If you have not seen a polo match be sure to check out a match near you and enjoy horses and riders in heart thumping action. Here is a video guide to polo from the TV show 60 Minutes, to , to help you understand the terminology and rules of polo.

Florida Horse Show Venues

Florida is home to several world class horse show venues that attract horses and riders from all over the world participate in show jumping, dressage, and eventing.

In Wellington, Florida the Wellington International horse shows feature WEF Wellington, GDF Dressage, Gold Coast Dressage and Wellington Classic Dressage. The Ridge at Wellington and White Fences in nearby Loxahatchee, Florida also hold horse shows during the season.

Ocala in North Central Florida is also a center for world class horse shows with the World Equestrian Center, HITS Ocala, and Florida Horse Park offering FEI and USEF rated shows.

Southwest Florida is home to rated horse shows at Fox Lea Farm in Venice, FL and the new Teranova Equestrian Center near Sarasota, FL.

You will find everything you need to know about horses and horse shows in Florida at Florida Horse Shows.

Florida Rodeos

Not to be ignored is the western riding contests including professional rodeos, barrel racing, and cutting teams. If you have not seen barrel racing, there are hundreds of barrel racing events in Florida throughout the year that feature fast paced horse riding skill and speed riding.

Best known Florida rodeos include the Silver Spurs Rodeo, Arcadia Pro Rodeo, Southeastern Pro Rodeo, Ocala Shrine Rodeo, Homestead Rodeo, and the Davie Pro Rodeo.

Trail Riding in Florida

Florida has a wonderful network of well maintained horse trails throughout the state. Many of these trails are within Florida State Parks and offer amenities such as equestrian camping sites. You can go with your own horse or choose a guided ride with horses supplied.

Horse Farms

Florida has hundreds of horse farms, mostly concentrated in the north central part of the state near Ocala, Florida.

Many of these farms breed future thoroughbred race horses, and Florida has a strong tradition of winners.

In addition to race horses, there are many farms focused on producing high performing sport horses for professional level horse shows.

Florida Horse Racing

Florida is home to the iconic Gulfstream Park Race Track where top thoroughbred race horses from all over the country are raced and bets are placed. The Pegasus race weekend in January and the Florida Derby in the spring highlight the winter racing season while attracting an international jet set.

In addition to great live and simulcast horse racing, Gulfstream Park Casino offers over 200 slots and electronic table games, plus The Poker Room has 20 tables featuring all of the popular cash games. Simulcast online betting feature horse races at major tracks throughout the United States.

Gulfstream Park also features over 20 restaurants, bars, and nightspots plus upscale shops, and art galleries. Special entertainment events are held at the Sport of Kings theater throughout the year.

Hotels near Gulfstream Park Race Track and Casino.

Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs on Florida's west coast features live thoroughbred races during specific racing date as well as offering off track betting through simulcast races at other tracks. Tampa Bay Downs also features a card room with all the popular poker games such as Texas Hold'em.

Hotels near Tampa Bay Downs.

Harrah's Pompano Beach

The former Isles Casino Pompano Park racing venue in Pompano Beach, Florida has been renamed to Harrah's Pompano Beach. Harrah's is the last harness racing horse track in Florida and its days are probably numbered as the owners want to close the race track. Plans call for the addition of retail development at the site of the track, along with keeping the recently remodeled casino. The casino offers a full range of slots and a large poker room with all the popular poker games.

Florida Casinos

Orlando Florida Victory Casino Cruise Ship (Offering the only live roulette and craps in Florida.)

This casino cruise ship sails twice daily from Port Canaveral, about a 45 minute drive from Orlando. Since the Victory Casino Cruise Ship sails outside of US territorial limits, it is can offer whatever it wants in terms of gambling and provides slots, table games, blackjack, and poker. Each Victory Casino cruise is five to six hours and offers a full Las Vegas type casino with full bar and restaurant service available.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos

The two most popular casinos in Florida are those run by the Seminole Indian tribe. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, one located in Hollywood, FL and the other in Tampa, FL. Both are similar to Las Vegas casinos, but do not have live roulette and craps tables. The Seminole and Muskogee casinos do have virtual versions of roulette tables at the following locations:

Seminole and Muskogee owned casinos offering virtual versions of roulette.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, FL

Seminole Casino Hotel in Immokalee, FL (Immokalee is a rural farming community.)

Seminole Casino in Coconut Creek, FL

Casino Miami Jai-Alai (Near Miami International Airport.)

The Big Easy Casino in Hallandale Beach, FL

Dania Jai-Alai Casino in Dania, FL

Cruise Update

Florida hosts the two busiest cruise ship ports in the world among its five cruise ports. This means there is a great selection of cruises at all price levels.

Many new cruises are now available at Cruise Direct.

If you book a cruise through Cruise Direct full refunds are available if the cruise is cancelled.

Disney Cruise Lines

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Carnival Cruise Lines

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Don't wait. Book your preferred dates now for 2022 - 2023.

Rocket Launch Sites

In addition to the well known Kennedy Space Center, there are numerous other launch sites in the United States and around the world. Check them out here.

Space Rides

Blue Origin

Ordinary citizens with deep pockets can book rides into space aboard Jeff Bezos's New Shepard sub orbital space craft. Launch Site 1 is located in West Texas near Van Horn, TX.

Virgin Galactic

Another sub orbital space trip is offered by Virgin Galactic with launches from New Mexico.

A more complex and expensive space trip is available aboard a SpaceX craft which includes several days in orbit.

All of these flights have had at least one successful round trip with civilians aboard and are booking future flights.