What happened to Gulfstream Park West?

What happened to Gulfstream’s turf course?

The turf course at Gulfstream (Hallandale) can’t last all year long, once and IF Calder shuts down. Gone the way of two of my favorite tracks: Tropical Park (which, ironically, Calder replaced) and Jamaica.

What is the history of Gulfstream Park West?

Gulfstream Park West was opened as Calder Racecourse in 1971 with a 1-mile dirt track and a 7-furlong turf course. In 2015 it was decided that, under management of the Stronach Group, the track would operate as Gulfstream Park West. Biggest stakes: The Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap and the Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap .

Will Gulfstream Park West be the last race at Calder?

Saturday’s opening day at the meet rebranded as Gulfstream Park West will truly mark the beginning of an end. Barring an 11th hour reprieve from the courts, the 40-day season will be the last ever run at Calder Race Course, the meat-and-potatoes South Florida track that has been operating since 1971.

Why isn’t there a year-round track at Gulfstream?

It is difficult for any track to operate year-round, especially one that relies so heavily on turf racing, like Gulfstream does. The two months when racing was conducted at Calder were used to give Gulfstream a break and to prepare the turf course for the Championship Meet.

Which horse crossed the finish line first at Gulfstream Park?

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – Emoji Guy was the first horse across Gulfstream Park’s newest finish line. Gulfstream’s new racing surface made its debut Thursday, and with that, the South Florida track becomes the first in the U.S. to offer races on traditional dirt and turf courses as well as an all-weather synthetic option.

Should Gulfstream move horse races from grass to Tapeta?

When a race is moved from artificial grass to dirt, many horses wind up not running. The plan now at Gulfstream would be to move races from grass to Tapeta on those wet days, which would likely minimize the rate of scratches. “It means a lot,” trainer Kathleen O’Connell said after winning Gulfstream’s Tapeta debut.

Is Gulfstream Park ready for year-round horse racing?

Already known as a premier winter horse racing destination, Gulfstream Park moved to racing year-round in 2021. That status, however, presented a dilemma: How can the quality of Gulfstream’s turf course be maintained with little to no downtime in South Florida’s subtropical climate that includes high temperatures and periods of intense rain?

What is the new surface at Gulfstream Park?

A new synthetic surface, Tapeta Footings. Gulfstream debuted its new, one-mile-and-70-yard Tapeta course Sept. 30 to become the only North American pari-mutuel facility sporting all three types of surfaces for racing: dirt, turf, and synthetic.

When are the Stakes at Gulfstream Park?

While Gulfstream hosts live racing and many different stakes races December 1st through March 31st, there are several premium stakes races to catch on their schedule: Check here often for Gulfstream Park picks from expert handicapping service Guaranteed Tip Sheet throughout the live racing meet.

How many days was the first race at Gulfstream Park?

Gulfstream Park conducted its first four-day race meet in front of a crowd of 18,000. The track closed and was reopened in 1944 by James Donn, Sr. for a 20 day meet in December.

What is the Tropical Turf horse race at Gulfstream Park?

One of the premier races at Gulfstream Park West is the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap. A Grade 3 event run at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf, the race was inaugurated in 1979 and was originally run on Christmas Day as the Christmas Day Handicap.

What happened to Gulfstream Park’s Calder racetrack?

Aerial photography of Calder racetrack. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) (Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images) MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Diligent won the final race at the track formerly known as Calder on Saturday, ending a half-century run of racing at the facility that was rebranded several years ago as Gulfstream Park West.

Who won the final race at Gulfstream Park?

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) (Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images) MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Diligent won the final race at the track formerly known as Calder on Saturday, ending a half-century run of racing at the facility that was rebranded several years ago as Gulfstream Park West.

Is Thoroughbred racing a thing of the past at Calder Park?

There has been plenty of back and forth in the courts for Thoroughbred racing to be a thing of the past at the venerable Calder. Since 2014, horseracing and the track has been leased by Calder’s owner, Churchill Downs, to Hallandale Beach’s Gulfstream Park’s owners, The Stronach Group, which renamed the track Gulfstream Park West.

What happened to Gulfstream racing at Calder?

The two months when racing was conducted at Calder were used to give Gulfstream a break and to prepare the turf course for the Championship Meet. Badgett said that the plan is to operate Gulfstream year-round in 2021, but said that not all the Calder dates will be made up.

What surfaces are used at the Gulfstream track?

Gulfstream debuted its new, one-mile-and-70-yard Tapeta course Sept. 30 to become the only North American pari-mutuel facility sporting all three types of surfaces for racing: dirt, turf, and synthetic.

What happened to Gulfstream Park West?

Gulfstream will play host to more racing days going forward than usual, now that what was called Gulfstream Park West — formerly Calder Race Course — is closed, running its final race in November 2020.

What is the most famous race ever held at Gulfstream Park?

Countless stars have graced Gulfstream with their presence over the years. Perhaps the most famous race at the track occurred in the 1989 Breeders’ Cup, which Gulfstream was hosting for the first time, when Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Sunday Silence and Belmont Stakes winner Easy Goer clashed in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

What happened in the Tapeta horse race?

Cristian Torres guided Strategy Queen to victory in an about 5 1/2-furlong race that drew nine 2-year-old fillies on Gulfstream’s inaugural Tapeta card. In two previous starts on dirt, the daughter of Fed Biz ran fourth and second. Torres and Sutherland both said riders will need to show patience in the saddle.

Who won the Gulfstream Tapeta horse race?

Cristian Torres guided Strategy Queen to victory in an about 5 1/2-furlong race that drew nine 2-year-old fillies on Gulfstream’s inaugural Tapeta card. In two previous starts on dirt, the daughter of Fed Biz

Where is Gulfstream Park horse racing?

History: Located in South Florida just north of Miami, Gulfstream Park opened in early 1939 and the inaugural meet lasted four days. From its humble beginnings, the track has become a year-round powerhouse in the sport, particularly in the winter, when many of the best horses and horsemen migrate to the track to take advantage of the warm climate.

How many surfaces does Gulfstream Park’s New Tapeta course have?

With a Tapeta course under construction, Gulfstream Park soon will be able to offer something that no other North American racetrack can: three racing surfaces. Construction on the track began on Monday, and it is expected to be ready for action in September.

Why is Gulfstream so popular for horse racing?

Due to its balmy climate, Gulfstream becomes a major hub for racing in the winter, and it is during this time that the Championship Meet is conducted, which spans from December until the end of March.

Is the Fountain of youth a Triple Crown horse race?

Spectacular Bid, Tim Tam, Kauai King, Bet Twice, Forty Niner, Proud Truth, Thunder Gulch—you might assume any race with such an illustrious roster of winners is a Triple Crown race, or at least a Grade 1. In actuality this decorated list of champions belongs to the Fountain of Youth (G2), a historic Kentucky Derby prep race held at Gulfstream Park.

When was the first Florida Derby held in the state?

Gulfstream Park opened in 1939 and ran the first Florida Derby in 1952. Get Expert Gulfstream Park Picks every day.