Gulfstream Park

Corporate Name: The Stronach Group
Mailing Address: 901 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009 (Click for map)
Telephone: (954) 454-7000; 1-800-771-TURF
Fax: (954) 454-7827
Website: www.gulfstreampark.com

Gulfstream Park’s commitment to the Thoroughbred industry in Florida, its legacy of giving back and its dedication to enhancing its fans’ experience continues to grow in 2016.

Gulfstream’s 2015–16 Championship Meet will offer an $11.61 million stakes schedule while hosting Eclipse Award-winning Thoroughbreds and Hall of Fame trainers and jockeys. This follows a ground-breaking 2015 when Gulfstream Park produced a record live handle of $1.338 billion and a record $1.625 billion on all wagering via Gulfstream.

The Florida Derby, which has produced 57 winners of Triple Crown events, continued to be a showcase for the country’s top 3-year-olds and one of North America’s biggest racing days, producing a record total handle of $27,255 million and an on-track record of $3.302 million for Gulfstream’s state-of-the-art facility. Alto Racing’s Materiality, making only his third career start, gave trainer Todd Pletcher his second consecutive Florida Derby victory and helped Pletcher win an unprecedented 12th consecutive Championship Meet training title. Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano won his fourth consecutive jockey title at the Championship Meet.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Eclipse Awards dinner returned to Gulfstream Park, where the national champions of the 2015 season, including Horse of the Year American Pharoah, were feted on January 16. Once again, Gulfstream helped to raise awareness and funds during Eclipse week and throughout the year through various events for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

The Claiming Crown returned to Gulfstream for a fourth season on December 5.

Other highlights of the Championship Meet included 2014 Florida Derby winner Constitution returning to win the Donn Handicap, Mshawish winning the Gulfstream Park Turf, Honor Code winning the Gulfstream Park Handicap, Birdatthewire winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks, and Itsaknockout’s victory via disqualification in the Fountain of Youth.

Big fields and competitive world-class racing continued to fuel innovative wagers like the Rainbow 6, Pick 5 and rolling Super Hi 5s. Gulfstream continued its commitment to Florida summer racing program in 2015 by offering a record $4.7 million stakes schedule. Along with a record 29 stakes, purses for the Florida Sire Stakes 2-year-old program jumped to $2 million, and a new 3-year-old Sire Stakes series offered $900,000 in purses.

Gulfstream’s summer meet was followed by another successful Fall Turf Festival at Gulfstream Park West, where average handle was up 19 percent despite racing four fewer days than in 2014.

When comparing this year’s total handle at Gulfstream Park West to 2012, the last year the 40-day Tropical-at-Calder meet was run unopposed, handle was up 144 percent, from $58 million to $142 million.

Gulfstream ushered in a new era in racing January 4, 2006 by unveiling its newly constructed facility as part of a $171.5 million renovation that began with the razing of its old grandstand and clubhouse shortly after the 2004 meet. In addition to the clubhouse, the racing surfaces underwent reconstruction. The main track was elongated from a mile to a mile and one-eighth and the turf course was widened from 80 feet to 170 feet while remaining seven furlongs in circumference. The building was designed to house two restaurants, two casinos, a poker room and a 500-seat theater– Sport of Kings, home of the Eclipse Awards since 2013. The walking ring, which includes lighted fountains surrounded by more than 600 seats and set under both of the restaurants, is the most dramatic in the nation.

On February 11, 2010, the ribbon was cut on the new Village at Gulfstream Park, a multi-use retail and entertainment center connected to the walking ring and racetrack through a series of walkways, balconies and staircases. The state-of-the-art, open-air mall, owned by The Stronach Group, met with rave reviews from local Hallandale residents and tourists from around the world. The facility attracts millions of new people, many whom otherwise might never visit a racetrack, and continues to evolve, adding new home stores and restaurants, including Frankey’s Sports Bar and Adena Grill.

Gulfstream continues to play a major role in the community. Saturday morning Breakfast at Gulfstream is a favorite with fans, especially families, who get a guided tour of the backstretch and get a chance to meet owners, trainers and jockeys up close. Free July 4th and New Year’s Eve events drew more than 30,000 people to Gulfstream in 2015. Gulfstream continues to support the highly successful grooms program and holds events throughout the year to support the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, and numerous local charities.

The 2015-2016 season at Gulfstream also witnessed the construction of Pegasus, the world’s largest horse sculpture made of bronze and steel and measuring 110 feet high and 200 feet long.

Chairman Frank Stronach’s commitment to the retraining and rehabilitation of retired Thoroughbreds continues with several programs designed to raise money throughout the year for Gulfstream’s Thoroughbred Aftercare Program. Mr. Stronach was recognized as a leader in equine retirement with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s inaugural Earle Mack Champions’ Award, as well as the Volterra Award from Longrun Thoroughbred Retirement.

Chairman: Frank Stronach
Officers: Alon Ossip, CEO; Timothy Ritvo, President; Mike Rogers, VP, Operations; Jane Lynn, Secretary; Patricia Angel, Vice President, Finance
Track President: Timothy Ritvo
General Manager, Vice President of Racing: P.J. Campo, (954) 457-6228
Vice President, Administration: Sheri Holmes
Vice President of Communications/Media: David Joseph, (954) 658-7156
Director of Mutuels: Ed Mackie, (954) 457-6252
Director of Marketing: Michael Nyman, (954) 457-6434
Director of Human Resources: Jeff Humke, (954) 457-6378
Director of Food & Beverage: Mark Ventresca, (954) 457-6958
Director of Operations: Stanley Czajka, (954) 457-6602
Director of Security: Roderick Baldwin, Peter Serbinoff, (954) 457-6532
Track Announcer: Larry Collmus, (954) 457-6268
Nearest Cities: Ft. Lauderdale and Miami
Nearest Airport: Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International
Track Data: 11/8-mile dirt track (sand/clay mix) with a chute for races up to a mile; length of the stretch to finish: 898 feet; track width: 90 feet; turf course (Celebration Bermuda grass): 7 furlongs and 170 feet wide; stable capacity 1,400 at Gulfstream, 1,320 at Palm Meadows Training Center
Admission Prices: Free admission to grounds and free general parking
Parking Facilities: Spaces for 5,200 cars; valet parking available