Race Tracks > Florida Race Tracks > Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream Park


901 S Federal Hwy
Hallandale Beach, Florida  33009
Phone:
(954) 454-7000
Toll-Free:
(800) 771-TURF
Fax:
(954) 457-6479



Notable Races

Stakes: Non-Graded
Aventura Stakes
Spectacular Bid Stakes
Coconut Grove Stakes

Stakes: Grade I
Donn Handicap
Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap
Florida Derby

Stakes: Grade II
Bonnie Miss Stakes
Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship
Hutcheson Stakes
Forward Gal Stakes
Mac Diarmida Handicap
Gulfstream Park Handicap
Davona Dale Stakes
Swale Stakes
Inside Information Stakes
Fountain of Youth Stakes

Stakes: Grade III
Sugar Swirl Handicap
Rampart Stakes
Orchid Handicap
Hurricane Bertie Handicap
Herecomesthebride Stakes
Canadian Turf Handicap
Very One Handicap
Skip Away Handicap
Pan American Handicap
Old Hat Stakes
Holy Bull Stakes
Hal's Hope Stakes
Appleton Handicap
Suwannee River Handicap
Sabin Stakes
Palm Beach Stakes
Mr. Prospector Handicap
Honey Fox Handicap
Deputy Minister Handicap

Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans January through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America.

Gulfstream Park was opened on Wednesday February 1, 1939 conducting a four-day meeting. The initial meeting had a crowd of 18,000. In 1944, the track was reopened by James Donn, Sr. for a 20-day meeting in December. The Gulfstream Park Handicap was first run in 1946 and the Florida Derby began in 1952. In that year the clubhouse was built and the Grandstand seating was expanded.

In 1961, James Donn Jr. succeeded his father as president of Gulfstream Park. In this year the Clubhouse was enlarged and the then-world's largest totalisator board was installed in the infield. A big break for Gulfstream Park came in 1972, when the track was awarded "middle dates" for a 40-day January through April meet.

In 1982, the Grandstand was renovated with new architecture and in 1984 the renovation of the clubhouse was completed. In 1986, the renovation of the track was completed with the new Gulfdome, a domed dining terrace. In 1989 Gulfstream Park hosted the Breeders Cup for the first time (which it did again in 1992 and 1999).

In 1990, the track was purchased by Bertram R. Firestone. In 1994, a half interest in the track was sold to Nigashi Nihon. The track was purchased by Magna Entertainment Corporation, in 1999 for $95 million.

The track began a $130 million renovation of the grandstand and clubhouse in 2004 and slot machines were approved for the track in 2004. It shares the races of the Sunshine Millions with Santa Anita Park.

The renovation, first effective for the 2006 spring meeting, was heavily criticized by racegoers and commentators, who felt that the new racino laid its emphasis entirely on the casino part, destroying the racetrack's atmosphere.

Track Attributes

The current dirt course is one and one-eighth miles in circumference, with a one-mile backstretch chute. The turf course is one mile in circumference; depending on the race day, the portable rail can be moved to the inside or outside of the course, thereby changing the circumference. The track can seat 16,627 people.

The track originally had a one mile dirt oval and a 7 furlong turf oval prior to the 2005 renovation.

Entertainment

Gulfstream Park has, in recent years, been a venue for concerts, with performances taking place on the grounds outside the grandstand. Reserved seats to the concerts are sold in advance, and others paying normal admission to the track may watch the concert in standing room. Various singers and groups who were popular in earlier times perform at Gulfstream as part of their tours. The track was also host to the Miami Pop Festival on December 29th, 1968 featuring The Grateful Dead and others.




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