Tampa Bay's Live It Up Challenge Begins Jan. 17

One of the track's most popular promotions, the "Live It Up Challenge" handicapping contest, begins Saturday, running through the March 7 Festival Day 46 card highlighted by the Grade III ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby and the Grade II Hillsborough Stakes on the turf. Players may register for the contest free of charge at www.liveitupchallenge.com any time before 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. All wagers are mythical, with players required to make selections each racing day in any two of the three randomly selected "Challenge Races." A player's bankroll is based on the payoffs for their selections based on a $2 win, place and show wager. Participants start the contest with one free lifeline. If a player's selections in both of a day's "Challenge Races" do not hit the board, they lose a lifeline. Players may purchase up to eight additional lifelines for $5 each upon signup; up to eight more for $10 each on Jan. 31; and up to four more for $25 each on Feb. 14. Once a player loses all their lifelines, they are eliminated. Players can only lose a maximum of one lifeline per day. The player with the largest bankroll will be declared the Grand Prize winner and will receive two seats in the High Rollers Contest in February of 2027 at Tampa Bay Downs, a $2,000 value. The second, third and fourth-place finishers will receive one High Rollers Contest seat apiece in February of 2027 at the Oldsmar oval, a $1,000 value. A bonus prize of $500 will go to the player who selects the most winners during the contest. The recipient of the "Most Winners" bonus may have been eliminated and does not have to remain active by the close of the contest period. If all players are eliminated before the conclusion of the contest, the four players with the highest bankrolls will win the prizes. To register and for a complete set of contest rules, visit www.liveitupchallenge.com on the Internet.