We just returned from a trip to Disney World and on the flight down they announced that we were about 90 miles from Orlando, as I looked out the plane window I could see what looked to me like race tracks everywhere.  Not just a few but many.  Is there a large race horse presence in central florida or what was I seeing?

You were over the southwest Ocala area. Alot of winter training facilities around Ocala....

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Ocala&state=FL

There are two current racetracks in South Fla - Gulfstream and Calder. Tropical closed many years ago and is now a horse show venue.  Flamingo used to be a world class track, but sadly closed as well, though they did hold some QH racing there recently.

Tampa has Tampa Bay Downs. As the previous poster said, the ones in Central Fla are strictly training tracks as well as the one at Palm Beach Downs.