Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group, is a Thoroughbred race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in

Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach (formerly known simply as Hallandale) is a city in southern Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, the son of a Swedish worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 20 ...

. Thoroughbred horse racing occurs year-round, defined by three distinct race meets. It is among the most important venues for

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

in the United States. Gulfstream Park Casino is open 365 days a year and offers slots, video poker, and electronic table games. * Championship Meet (December - March * Royal Palm Meet (April - September) * Flamingo Festival Meet (October - November) * Pegasus World Cup

Track attributes

Gulfstream Park has three courses, each with a unique racing surface: A -mile dirt track with a backstretch chute that allows for a one-turn mile, a synthetic Tapeta track measuring one mile and seventy yards, and a seven-furlong turf course. Gulfstream originally had a one-mile dirt track prior to a 2004 renovation, which enlarged the dirt oval by a furlong and widened the turf course from 80 to 170 feet. A second renovation in 2021 replaced the outer portion of the turf course with a Tapeta surface.

Buildings and grounds

Gulfstream Park opened on February 1, 1939, conducting a four-day meeting. Its initial meeting attracted a crowd of 18,000. In 1944, the track was reopened by James Donn Sr. for a 20-day meeting in December. In 1952, a clubhouse was erected and an addition was put on the grandstand. Gulfstream Park introduced turf racing in 1959. The clubhouse was enlarged in 1961 and the then-world's largest totalizator board was installed in the infield. In 1972, the track was awarded "middle dates" for a 40-day January through April meet. In 1982, the grandstand was again renovated and in 1984 a clubhouse renovation was completed. In 1986, the track added its Gulfdome, a domed dining terrace.

Palm Meadows Palm Meadows International Baseball Facility is an Australian baseball field located on the Gold Coast, Queensland. It is owned by Hungtat Worldwide Pty Ltd (Trading as Palm Meadows Golf course) and is leased through Gold Coast city council. It ...

, Gulfstream's state-of-the-art training facility in

Palm Beach County Palm Beach County is a county located in the southeastern part of Florida and lies directly north of Broward County and Miami-Dade County. The county had a population of 1,492,191 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous county ...

, was opened on Nov. 29, 2002. In 2004, Gulfstream Park began a $130 million renovation of the grandstand and clubhouse. Slot machines also were approved for the track. The renovation, first effective for the 2006 spring meeting, was criticized by racegoers and commentators, who felt that the new

racino A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include Casino game#Table games, table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette. In 2003, Joe Bob Br ...

laid too much emphasis on the casino area, to the detriment of the racetrack's atmosphere. 2010 marked the beginning of The Village at Gulfstream Park, a 500,000-square-foot mixed use area, taking the place of a parking lot in front of the casino. The project was first discussed when Gulfstream planned the major renovation in 2004. The Village initially set fall 2007 and then fall 2008 opening dates. However, permit issues and the economy held back the project for many years. On February 4th, 2010, the site officially opened to patrons heading to Gulfstream. In September 2013 the park announced another expansion, with construction beginning in March 2014. A highlight would be a 110-ft, fire-breathing bronze statue of Pegasus slaying a dragon, at the time the world's largest equine and European dragon statues. Pegasus would also be the second largest statue in the US after the Statue of Liberty). The statues were completed that year in December. The site also includes rock features, fountains and a stage.

Timeline

The

Gulfstream Park Handicap The Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (formerly known as the Gulfstream Park Handicap) is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Gulfstream Park each year. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one mile on the dirt. A Grade II even ...

was first run in 1946. The year 1952 saw the first running of the Florida Derby, the state's first stakes with a $100,000 purse. The 1955

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

winner and Horse of the Year Swaps set a then world-record of 1:39 3/5 for a mile and 70 yards while carrying 130 pounds in the Broward Handicap. Gen. Duke equaled the world record of 1:46 4/5 in defeating Bold Ruler in the Florida Derby in 1956. In 1980, Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr. set a meeting record with 60 wins. In 1989, Gulfstream Park hosted its first

Breeders Cup The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, ...

World Championships, highlighted by the

Classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...

match-up between

and

Preakness Preakness may refer to: * The Preakness or Preakness Stakes, an American flat thoroughbred horse race held in Baltimore, Maryland * Preakness (horse), an American thoroughbred racehorse from Preakness Stables * Preakness, New Jersey, a section of W ...

winner

Sunday Silence Sunday Silence (March 25, 1986 – August 19, 2002) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1989, he won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes but failed to complete the Triple Crown when he was defeated in the Belmont ...

and

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nicknamed Th ...

winner

Easy Goer Easy Goer (March 21, 1986 – May 12, 1994) was an American Champion Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse known for earning American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors in 1988 and defeating 1989 American Horse of the Year Sunday Silence in t ...

. Gulfstream would host the Breeders' Cup again in 1992. Jockey

Julie Krone Julieann Louise Krone (born July 24, 1963), is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first (and so far only) female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair. In 2000, she became t ...

took the Jockey's Title in 1993 with 98 wins. In 1994,

Holy Bull Holy Bull (January 24, 1991 – June 7, 2017) was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Although he finished a disappointing twelfth in the 1994 Kentucky Derby, his major wins that year in the Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, ...

won the Florida Derby while, in 1995,

Cigar A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binder l ...

won the

Donn Handicap The Donn Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1959 through 2016 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A race for horses age four and older, it was contested on turf from inception through 1964 at a distance ...

and Gulfstream Park Handicap on his way to a perfect season. Meanwhile, in 1995, Florida Derby winner

Thunder Gulch Thunder Gulch (May 23, 1992 – March 19, 2018) was a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his wins in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1995, which earned him the title of U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt. Background ...

would go on to win the Kentucky Derby (

Monarchos Monarchos (February 9, 1998 – October 22, 2016) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2001 Kentucky Derby in the second fastest winning time and overall third fastest time in the race's history. Background Monarchos was si ...

would repeat Thunder Gulch's feat in 2001). Gulfstream again would host the Breeders' Cup in 1999. Hal's Hope, winner of the 2000 Florida Derby, would return in 2002 to win the Gulfstream Park Handicap. The 2002 season introduced the first running of the popular

Sunshine Millions The Sunshine Millions is a series of American thoroughbred horse race, races for thoroughbred race horse, horses held in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California or at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The brainchild of promi ...

, pitting Florida-breds against California-breds for purses totaling $3.6 million. In 2004, trainer

Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher (born June 26, 1967 in Dallas, Texas) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award seven times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (20 ...

started an unprecedented run of nine consecutive training titles. In 2006, Hall of Fame jockey

Jerry Bailey Jerry D. Bailey (born August 29, 1957 in Dallas, Texas) is an Thoroughbred Racing on NBC, NBC Sports thoroughbred racing analyst and a retired American National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame jockey. Early years Bailey was born ...

rode his last race aboard Silver Tree in the Sunshine Millions, and the great Barbaro would win the Florida Derby before making headlines with his victory in the Kentucky Derby. In April, 2012,

Javier Castellano Javier Castellano (born October 23, 1977, in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Castellano began his riding career in 1996 at Santa Rita and La Rinconada racecourses in Venezuela. In June 1997 ...

, who collected his first Gulfstream title by riding a record 112 wins, scored his 3,000th career success aboard Virtuously on Feb. 24 and

, who claimed an unprecedented ninth consecutive training title at Gulfstream with 72 trips to the winner's circle, recorded his 3,000 career victory when he saddled Spring Hill Farm for a winning performance on Feb. 11.

Track ownership and management

In 1961, James Donn Jr. succeeded his father as president of Gulfstream Park. In 1990, the track was purchased by Bertram R. Firestone. In 1994, a half interest in the track was sold to Nigashi Nihon. In 1999, Gulfstream Park was purchased by

Magna Entertainment Corporation Granite Real Estate Investment Trust (formerly MI Developments Inc.) is a Canadian-based REIT engaged in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of industrial, warehouse and logistics properties in North America and Europe. It was ...

, for $95 million. In 2010, the ownership of the track was taken over by Magna parent MI Developments Inc. (MID). Since July 3, 2011, the track has been owned by

The Stronach Group Stronach Group, doing business as 1/ST, is an entertainment and real estate company in North America with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core.Suffolk Downs in the 1980s before establishing himself in the 1990s as a leading Florida trainer. Ritvo also had served as Vice President and Director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association. In 2012,

Stronach Group Stronach Group, doing business as 1/ST, is an entertainment and real estate company in North America with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core.Florida Derby The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturd ...

(1952) *

Pegasus World Cup The Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race whose first running was on January 28, 2017 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. It is run over the dirt at the distance of miles (9 furlongs) and is o ...

(2017) * Pegasus World Cup Turf (2019) Grade II: * Fountain of Youth Stakes (1945) *

Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes The Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (formerly known as the Gulfstream Park Handicap) is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Gulfstream Park each year. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one mile on the dirt. A Grade II even ...

(1946) * Fort Lauderdale Stakes (1947) *

Pan American Stakes The Pan American Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are four years or older held over a distance of one and one-half miles (twelve furlongs) on the turf usually scheduled annually in late March as an under card e ...

(1962) *

Gulfstream Park Oaks The Gulfstream Park Oaks is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old filly, fillies, over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt held annually in March at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Flo ...

(1971) *

Holy Bull Stakes The Holy Bull Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses run over the distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt, held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event c ...

(1972) *

Inside Information Stakes The Inside Information Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in late January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, ...

(1976) * Princess Rooney Stakes (1985) *

Davona Dale Stakes The Davona Dale Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies, over a distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in late February or early March at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event ...

(1988) *

Mac Diarmida Stakes The Mac Diarmida Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses four-years-old and older run over a distance of one-and-three-eighth miles (11 furlongs) on the turf, annually in February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, F ...

(1995) Grade III: (listed by grade and then year inaugurated) *

Mr. Prospector Stakes The Mr. Prospector Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race open for three years old or older, over a distance of 7 furlongs on the dirt track held annually in December at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida ...

(1946) *

Suwannee River Stakes The Suwannee River Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Gulfstream Park located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Open to fillies and mares four-year-olds and up, the Grade III event is set at a distance of 9 furlongs or one and one eighth mile ...

(1947) *

Appleton Stakes The Appleton Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of March at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Listed event raced on turf at a distance of 1 mile, it is open to horses age four and older. Race hi ...

(1952) *

Orchid Stakes The Orchid Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years or older held over a distance of one and one-half miles on the turf usually scheduled annually in late March as an under card event on F ...

(1954) *

Canadian Turf Stakes The Canadian Turf Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf track, held annually in late February or early March at Gulfstream Park ...

(1967) *

Tropical Turf Stakes The Tropical Turf Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years olds and older at the distance of one mile on the turf held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently ca ...

(1972) *

Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship The Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early mid-February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event c ...

(1972) * W. L. McKnight Handicap (1973)*

Sugar Swirl Stakes The Sugar Swirl Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of 6 furlongs on the dirt track held annually in December at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida ...

(1981) *

Forward Gal Stakes The Forward Gal Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in late January or early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Th ...

(1981) * Herecomesthebride Stakes (1984) *

Smile Sprint Stakes The Smile Sprint Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early July at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. History The race has ...

(1984) *

The Very One Stakes The Very One Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Open to fillies and mares three years old and up, it is contested over a distance of five furlongs on turf. The Very One Stakes ...

(1984) * Fred W. Hooper Stakes (1985) *

Honey Fox Stakes The Honey Fox Stakes is a Grade III horserace, Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for filly, fillies and mares that are four years or older held over a distance of 1 mile on the turf scheduled annually in late February or early March at Gul ...

(1985) *

Swale Stakes The Swale Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses at the distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse ...

(1985) *

Sweetest Chant Stakes The Sweetest Chant Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies, over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf held annually in late January or early February at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, ...

(1986) *

Hal's Hope Stakes The Ghostzapper Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-years-old and older at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt run annually in March at Gulfstream Park located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event cur ...

(1990) *

Royal Delta Stakes The Royal Delta Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The e ...

(1991) *

Hurricane Bertie Stakes The Hurricane Bertie Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of furlongs on the dirt track held annually in March at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florid ...

(2001) * Marshua's River Stakes (2001) * Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (2011) * Kitten's Joy Stakes (2012) Non-graded: (partial list, listed Alphabetically) *

Aventura Stakes The Aventura Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses raced at Gulfstream Park once run at the start of the year, but now in December. The Aventura is open to three-year-olds willing to race one mile on the dirt and carries a purse of $125,000. It ...

* Azalea Stakes (1972) * Birdonthewire Stakes *

Carry Back Stakes The Carry Back Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race once run annually at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida but now run at Gulfstream Park after negotiations between the two tracks. Contested during the first part of July, the ...

(1975) * Coconut Grove Stakes *

Dania Beach Stakes Dania is the edievalLatin name for Denmark (named for the Dani tribe). Dania may also refer to: * Dania Academy, usually referred to as Dania, a business academy with eight campuses in Denmark * Dania Beach, Florida, a city in Broward County * ...

(2008) * Ginger Brew Stakes * H. Allen Jerkens Stakes * Hutcheson Stakes (1955) * Mucho Macho Man Stakes *

Rampart Stakes The Rampart Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Listed event open to fillies and mares age four and up, it is contested over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt. ...

(1976) *

Palm Beach Stakes The Colonel Liam Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late February or early March on the turf course at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida over a distance of 1 1/16 miles. A listed event open to three-yea ...

(1987) *

Skip Away Handicap The Skip Away Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Listed event open to horses age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of miles (9 furlongs). The race is ...

(1987) * Spectacular Bid Stakes (1986) * Gulfstream Park Stakes (inaugurated in 2012, Reveron first winner) (FTBOA) Florida Sire stakes: *

Dr. Fager Stakes The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager division is the first leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. Inaugurated in 1982, the race was named after the Florida-bred Horse of the Year and leading sire Dr. Fager. The race was originally run at ...

Desert Vixen Stakes The Florida Sire Stakes Desert Vixen division is a thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park, in Hallandale Beach, Florida for two-year-old, fillies by FTBOA registered stallions at a distance of six furlongs on dirt. It is part of t ...

* Affirmed Stakes * Susan's Girl Stakes *

In Reality Stakes The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes In Reality division is the fifth leg of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' & Owners' Association (FTBOA) Florida Sire series. It has been run on dirt over a distance of six furlongs since inception. The race was named ...

* My Dear Girl Stakes * Wildcat Heir Stakes On Opening Day, December 1, 2012, of Gulfstream Park's 2012-2013 meet, the track is hosting the 14th running of racing's Claiming Crown. The Claiming Crown has become the most important event for horse racing's claiming runners, and Gulfstream Park is raising the purses for each individual race in honor of this.

Entertainment

Gulfstream Park in recent years has been a concert venue, with performances taking place on the grounds outside the grandstand. Reserved seats to the concerts are sold in advance, and others paying normal track admission may watch the concert in standing room. Various singers and groups popular in earlier times perform at Gulfstream Park on their tours. The track was also host to the Miami Pop Festival from December 28–30, 1968, featuring over thirty performing bands and artists, including the

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, Folk music, folk, country music, country, jazz, bluegrass music, bluegrass, ...

. In 2022, 1/ST EXPERIENCE in partnership with Breakwater Hospitality Group opened the Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park. The Carousel Club is a 14,000 square foot entertainment and hospitality hotspot featuring a carousel bar and is located trackside at Gulfstream Park.

Casino

The Gulfstream Park Casino was the first building to be constructed when Gulfstream Park first opened in 1939. It was the only building housing the main casino and scattered restaurants and bars. It was surrounded by an extra-large parking lot until 2010, when The Village at Gulfstream Park opened.

References

External links

Gulfstream Park Official Website
{{Coord, 25.978474, -80.13799, region:US_type:landmark, display=title Horse racing venues in Florida Casinos in Florida Stronach Group Sports venues in Broward County, Florida 1939 establishments in Florida Sports venues completed in 1939