History
Derby Lane held its inaugural race on January 3, 1925. Local businessmen built the track, and when they missed land payments it passed to T.L. Weaver's lumber company, whose family ran it for the next century. The Alldritt "Wonder Lure" was introduced there in 1937.
After Florida voters approved Amendment 13 in 2018, Derby Lane ran its last live races on December 27, 2020, days before the statewide ban began. Simulcast wagering and a poker room continued, and in 2025 the Weaver family sold the property to a development firm.
Why it matters: It raced greyhounds for nearly 96 years, from January 1925 to December 2020.
Timeline
- January 3, 1925Inaugural race[1]
Derby Lane held its grand inaugural race.
- 1937Alldritt lure introduced[1]
The Alldritt lure, originally called the "Wonder Lure," was introduced at the track.
- 2018Amendment 13 passes[1]
Florida voters passed Amendment 13, ending greyhound racing in the state.
- December 27, 2020
A final series of matinee races ended live greyhound racing at Derby Lane.
- 2025Sold to developer[1]
Weaver family ownership ended with the sale of the facility to a development firm.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | Simulcast wagering and a poker room; the property was sold to a development firm in 2025[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Venue facts
| Other names | Derby Lane Greyhound Track |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Greyhound racing |
| Level | Greyhound |
| Opened | January 3, 1925[1,3] |
| Last used for sports | December 27, 2020[1,2,3] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Surface | White sand[1] |
| Owner / operator | Weaver family (until 2025)[1] |
| Closure | Florida Amendment 13 (2018) banned greyhound racing after 2020. |
Documented details
- The track was built in 1925 by local businessmen; after they missed land payments, it passed to T.L. Weaver's lumber company, which kept running it.[1]
- Grey's Calibrator won the Derby Lane Million in 2006, described by Wikipedia as the richest greyhound race.[1]
- Derby Lane was the next-to-last Florida greyhound track to close before the state ban took effect.[2]
Sources
- Derby Lane Greyhound Track, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, owner operator, surface
- Dog days of Florida come to an end, with total demise of U.S. greyhound racing within sight, NBC News. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed
- Greyhound racing in the United States, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, opened
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.