Gulfstream Park has South Florida’s hottest casino. Open 365 days a year, it features not only one, but two floors of high energy entertainment with almost 750 Las Vegas style slots including Electronic Table Games, a live action poker room with stakes ranging from casual to ultra-high, captivating promotions and tournaments.

1. Gulfstream Casino Florida
2. Casino Gulfstream Hallandale Florida
3. Gulfstream Casino Miami Fl

The Backyard Casino at Calder hosts 75 games. Calder's horse racing operations were leased to the Stronach Group, operators of Gulfstream Park, in 2014. Since then, Calder's meet has been named Gulfstream Park West. Calder Casino is a wholly owned property of Churchill Downs Incorporated and has kept its original name. Gulfstream Park is a racetrack and county-approved casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida. During its annual meet, which spans December through October, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in the United States.

Gulfstream Park is a racetrack and county-approved casino in Hallandale Beach, Florida. During its annual meet, which spans December through October, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in the United States.

History[edit]

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.

Gulfstream Park introduced turf racing for the first time in 1959.

In 1952 the clubhouse was erected and a new addition was put on the grandstand. It also marked the first running of the Florida Derby. The following year, the Florida Derby became the first stakes in Florida with a $100,000 purse.

The 1955 Kentucky Derby 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. The following year was just as exciting at Gulfstream when Gen. Duke equaled the world record of 1:46 4/5 in defeating Bold Ruler in the Florida Derby.

In 1959, a new era at Gulfstream began with the opening of its world-acclaimed turf course. In 1961, James Donn Jr. became president of Gulfstream. It also marked the construction of what was then the world's largest tote board.

Following the death of his father, James Donn Jr., Doug Donn was elected Gulfstream Park's president.

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 1980, Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr. set a meeting record with 60 winners.

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).

Gulfstream played host its first Breeders' Cup World Championships in 1989, highlighted by the Classic match-up between Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Sunday Silence and Belmont Stakes winner Easy Goer.^[1] Gulfstream would host the Breeders' Cup again in 1992.

In 1990, the track was purchased by Bertram R. Firestone.

Jockey Julie Krone took the jockey's title in 1993 with 98 winners. In 1994, Holy Bull won the Florida Derby while, in 1995, Cigar won the Donn Handicap and Gulfstream Park Handicap on his way to a perfect season. Meanwhile, '95 Florida Derby winner Thunder Gulch would go on to win the Kentucky Derby. Monarchos would repeat Thunder Gulch's feat in 2001.

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.^[2] In 2010, the ownership of the track was taken over by Magna parent MI Developments Inc. (MID). The track is currently owned by The Stronach Group since July 3, 2011.

Hal's Hope, winner of the 2000 Florida Derby, would return in 2002 to win the Gulfstream Park Handicap. The 2002 season was also highlighted by the first running of the popular Sunshine Millions, pitting Florida-breds vs. California-breds for purses totaling $3.6 million. Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's state-of-the-art training facility in Palm Beach County, was opened on Nov. 29, 2002.

Trainer Todd Pletcher started his unprecedented run of nine consecutive training titles in 2004.

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 now hosts all of the races in the series of races known as the Sunshine Millions.The series now consists of the:

In 2006, Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey 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.

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.^[3]

In June, 2011, Tim Ritvo was named President and General Manager of Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino. He was a prominent jockey and racing official at Suffolk Downs in the 1980s before establishing himself in the 1990s as a leading Florida trainer. Ritvo has also served as Vice President and Director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association.^[4]

In April, 2012, Javier Castellano, who collected his first Gulfstream title by riding a record 112 winners, scored his 3000th career success aboard Virtuously on Feb. 24 and Todd Pletcher, 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.^[5]

In 2012, Stronach Group named Tim Ritvo, Chief Operating Officer of its Racing Division^[6]

March 2, 2020 Tim Ritvo stepped down as COO of Stronach Group operated tracks, which include the troubled Santa Anita racetrack in California. He left to “pursue other opportunities.”^[7]

Stakes Races[edit]

Gulfstream Park is home to the following graded stakes: (listed by grade and then year inaugurated)
Grade I:

• Florida Derby (1952)
• Pegasus World Cup (2017)
• Pegasus World Cup Turf (2019)

Grade II:

• Fountain of Youth Stakes (1945)
• Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (1946)
• Fort Lauderdale Stakes (1947)
• Pan American Stakes (1962)
• Gulfstream Park Oaks (1971)
• Holy Bull Stakes (1972)
• Inside Information Stakes (1976)
• Princess Rooney Stakes (1985)
• Davona Dale Stakes (1988)
• Mac Diarmida Stakes (1995)

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

• Mr. Prospector Stakes (1946)
• Suwannee River Stakes (1947)
• Appleton Stakes (1952)
• Orchid Stakes (1954)
• Hutcheson Stakes (1955)
• Canadian Turf Stakes (1967)
• Tropical Turf Stakes (1972)
• Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship (1972)
• W. L. McKnight Handicap (1973)
• Rampart Stakes (1976)
• Sugar Swirl Stakes (1981)
• Forward Gal Stakes (1981)
• Herecomesthebride Stakes (1984)
• Smile Sprint Stakes (1984)
• Fred W. Hooper Stakes (1985)
• Honey Fox Stakes (1985)
• Swale Stakes (1985)
• Sweetest Chant Stakes (1986)
• Palm Beach Stakes (1987)
• Hal's Hope Stakes (1990)
• Royal Delta Stakes (1991)
• Hurricane Bertie Stakes (2001)
• Marshua's River Stakes (2001)
• Kitten's Joy Stakes (2012)

Non-graded: (partial list, listed Alphabetically)

• Azalea Stakes (1972)
• Carry Back Stakes (1975)
• Dania Beach Stakes (2008)
• Skip Away Handicap (1987)
• Spectacular Bid Stakes (1986)
• Gulfstream Park Stakes (inaugurated in 2012, Reveron first winner)

(FTBOA) Florida Sire stakes:

Pegasus Park[edit]

In September 2013 an expansion was announced beginning with the construction of a 110 feet bronze statue of Pegasus killing a dragon.^[8] Construction began in March 2014 and finished on the statues themselves in December of that year with the surrounding rock features and fountains to be completed in late 2015. Underneath Pegasus will be a theatre and the dragon will breathe fire when completed. They are the world's largest equine and European dragon statues. Pegasus is also the second largest statue in the United States after the Statue of Liberty.

Track attributes[edit]

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.

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.^[9] 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[edit]

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 from December 28–30, 1968, featuring over thirty performing bands and artists, including the Grateful Dead.

TV Personalites[edit]

• Gary Seibel (1991–1993)
• Caton Bredar (1994–1999, 2010)
• Jennifer Burke (1999–2002)
• Joanne Jones (2003–2006)
• Ron Nicolleti (2007–2009, 2011–present)
• Rolly Hoyt (2007–2009)
• Larry Collmus (2007–2016)
• Travis Stone (2010)
• Alyssa Ali (2010)
• Jessica Pacheco (2011–2012)
• Brian Skirka (2011-2013)
• Christina Bossinakis (2012–present)
• John DeSantis (2012-2013)
• Pete Aiello (2013–present)
• Gabby Gaudet (2015–present)
• Andy Serling (2015-2016)
• Acacia Courtney (2016– May 2020)
• Jason Blewitt (2017–present)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Gulfstream Park Race Track Information'. HorseRacing.net. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
2. ^Durso, Joseph (1999-07-07). 'HORSE RACING; Gulfstream Park Has Sale Agreement'. The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331.
3. ^Andrew, Beyer (2006-01-17). 'Construction of New Gulfstream Park Points to Destruction'. Washington Post.
4. ^'Ritvo Named Gulfstream Park President and General Manager'. 2011-07-25. Archived from the original on 2013-01-24.
5. ^'Gulfstream Meeting Took Off Running and Kept Going'. 2012-04-08. Archived from the original on 2012-07-01.
6. ^'Stronach Group Names Rogers President, Ritvo COO of Racing Division'. 2012-06-08. Archived from the original on 2015-01-29.
7. ^'Group that owns Santa Anita dismisses its COO'. ESPN.com. 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
8. ^'Pegasus Park'. Archived from the original on 2015-01-20.
9. ^'Claiming Crown Moves to Gulfstream'. BloodHorse.com. 2012-03-13.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 25°58′43″N80°08′17″W / 25.978474°N 80.13799°W

Gulfstream Casino Florida

Calder Casino is a casino located in Lake Lucerne, Miami Gardens, Florida. It includes slots, electronic table games, and bingo.

The casino opened in 2010 and features a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m²) gaming floor with 1,100 slot machines, including video poker, as well as electronic roulette and blackjack. Live entertainment^[1] can be found at Calder Casino on a weekly basis as well as a popular ladies night.

A player's club,^[2] VIP lounge, and dining options^[3] such as The Buffet, Lucky's Restaurant and Center Bar can all be found at the location. It is a non-smoking casino, however the Backyard Casino, South Florida's newest^{[citation needed]} and largest smoking friendly open-air casino, opened at Calder Casino on May 19, 2018. The Backyard Casino at Calder hosts 75 games.

Calder's horse racing operations were leased to the Stronach Group, operators of Gulfstream Park, in 2014. Since then, Calder's meet has been named Gulfstream Park West.^[4] Calder Casino is a wholly owned property of Churchill Downs Incorporated and has kept its original name.

History[edit]

In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime horse racing in Florida; in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill allowing for it. Prior to this time, a fall meet was held at Tropical Park Race Track in Miami and winter / spring meets at Hialeah Park, and Gulfstream Park in Broward County. In 1970, Stephen Calder received a permit for summertime racing but the meet was run at Tropical Park because construction was not complete at Calder. On May 6, 1971 Calder Race Course held its first day of racing. When William L. McKnight became the new owner of Tropical Park, he stated his intentions of closing the track and switching the dates to the Calder track, of which he was one of the principal investors.^[5] Racing ceased at Tropical Park in 1972.

The 1980s brought about renovations and expansions and two purchases. The first purchase was by Bertram R. Firestone and the second was by Kawasaki Leasings, Inc. In 1992 the 'Festival of the Sun' was introduced. By 1997, simulcasting was introduced (so bets could be placed at Calder on races from other tracks). The handle increased significantly; the track increased purses. In January 1999, Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) purchased Calder Race Course for approximately $86 million. In the first years of the new century the track introduced the 'Florida Million' and the 'Summit of Speed'.

Calder's Summit of Speed has produced several Breeders' Cup champions and Eclipse Award winners since its start in 2000. (The Eclipse award is the highest honor bestowed in American racing). In its short history, the Summit of Speed attracted some of the country's top sprinters, including Cajun Beat and Orientate who both went on to win Breeders' Cup Sprint championship races (Orientate 2002, Cajun Beat 2003). In 2005, Lost in the Fog won at Calder, although was later defeated in the Breeders' Cup. The Summit of Speed turned out to be the single biggest day in the history of Calder. In 2004, over $10.8 million was wagered on the event.

It was previously in the Lake Lucerne census-designated place.^[6][7] In 2003, the unincorporated area where Calder is located became the City of Miami Gardens, the third-largest city in Miami-Dade County.^[8]

On June 4, 2005, jockey Eddie Castro set the North American record for the most wins in a day at one track, winning 9 races at Calder.

The world record for the most spent on a Thoroughbred at sale took place at Calder in 2006 when a two-year-old horse sold for $16 million. The horse was later named The Green Monkey.

In late 2009, Calder changed its official name to Calder Casino & Race Course. The grand opening of the Calder Casino was celebrated in January 2010.

On August 24, 2013, jockey Antonio A. Gallardo set the record for the most stakes wins in a day and in a row, winning 4 consecutive stake races in the Juvenile Showcase.

After head-to-head racing between Calder and nearby Gulfstream Park in 2013 and 2014, CDI and the Stronach Group announced an agreement where the Stronach Group would manage Calder's racing operations, and CDI would operate the Calder Casino.^[9] After the agreement, Gulfstream announced it would operate a two-month meet at Calder in the fall under the name Gulfstream Park West.^[4] Under the changes, the track's code for official racing programs was changed from CRC to GPW.^[4]

In April 2015, CDI demolished approximately 1,400 stalls in an area marked for non-racing commercial re-development. In July 2015, Gulfstream Park was informed that the Calder grandstand – owned by CDI – will not be open to the public for the 2015 Gulfstream Park West meet except for racing officials, and that the seven-story structure will be demolished once the meet has concluded.^[9] Demolition was completed in October 2016 and The Stronach Group recommended everyone watch and wager at Gulfstream Park.

Physical attributes[edit]

The length of the main track is one-mile (1.6 km) with 1/4 and 7/8 chutes. Surface is 12-inch sand and marl (clay) base with 4.5 inches of sand and marl cushion. The turf course is 7/8 mile with a 1/4-mile chute. The surface is Tifton #419 Bermuda grass. The stable area has stalls for 450 thoroughbreds plus receiving barn, feed rooms, tack rooms, detention barns, and living quarters.

TV personalites[edit]

• Ron Nicolleti (1989–2008, 2014–present)
• Caton Bredar (1992–1994)
• Todd Schrupp (1991–1998)
• Bobby Neuman (1999–2014)
• Meredith Gleaves (2008–2010)
• Anthony Schweiker (2010–2011)
• Pete Aiello (2014–present)
• Chris Griffin (2016–present)
• Acacia Courtney (2016–present)
• Jason Blewitt (2017–present)
• Jason Beem (2018–present)

Jockey colony[edit]

Gulfstream Park West's jockey colony is reflective of the diversity of Miami. With the Gulfstream West oval serving as a launching pad for jockeys coming from Latin America and the Caribbean, many jockeys have gained valuable riding experience before success at other racetracks across the country. Top jockeys who started their careers at Calder include Javier and Abel Castellano (Venezuela), Eibar Coa (Venezuela), Rene Douglas (Panama), Shaun Bridgmohan (Jamaica), Edgar Prado (Peru), Pedro Rodriguez (Cuba), Alex Solis (Panama), José Ferrer (Puerto Rico), Jorge Chavez (Peru), José A. Santos (Chile), Cornelio Velásquez (Panama), Manoel Cruz (Brazil), Jacinto Vásquez (Panama-retired) and Eddie Castro (Panama) among others. In addition, Stewart Elliott of Smarty Jones fame and Gary Boulanger (retired) are a few Canadians who led the ranks at Calder early in their careers.

Winners of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey that hailed from Gulfstream West when they won – Rosemary Homeister (1992), Phil Teator (1997), Shaun Bridgemohan (1998) and Eddie Castro (2003). Jockeys whose careers started at Calder and went on to Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey: Javier Castellano (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), Jerry Bailey (2000–2003; 1995–1997), Jorge Chavez (1999), Mike E. Smith (1993), José A. Santos (1988).

On December 28, 1978, jockey Niconar 'Nick' Navarro was killed by a direct lightning strike after completing the second race at Calder Race Course. According to Jon Roberts, in American Desperado:^[10]

At Calder, I had a jockey named Nick Navarro who worked for me. He was one of the good guys. He wouldn't hold horses or charge them or run them on dope. He was very skilled, and when I ran my horses clean, I used Nick.

Casino Gulfstream Hallandale Florida

One day in 1977 [sic] he ran a race for me at Calder. I walked up to him after he finished. He put his hand up to wave, and there was a powerful explosion. A bolt of lightning came out of the sky and hit him.

Multiple news outlets report: the remaining eight races at the track that day were cancelled.^[11][12]

Calder Race Course Hall of Fame[edit]

The Calder Hall of Fame was created in 1995 to honor those who have made history at Calder Race Course.

Gulfstream Casino Miami Fl

Inductees include:

• Princess Rooney (1995)
• Spend A Buck (1995)
• Frank Gomez (1995
• Stanley Hough 1995
• Gene St. Leon (1995))
• Fred W. Hooper (1995)
• José Vélez Jr. (1997)
• Cherokee Run (1998)
• John J. Tammaro Jr. (1999)
• Jacinto Vásquez (1999)
• James E. Bracken (2000)
• Miguel A. Rivera (2000)
• Mike Gonzalez (2001)
• Alex Solis (2002)
• Ocala Stud Farm (2002)
• John A. Franks (2003)
• Mary L. Russ (2003)
• Martin D. Wolfson (2003)
• Eibar Coa (2004)
• Rosemary Homeister Jr. (2006)
• Edward Plesa Jr. (2007)

References[edit]

1. ^'Entertainment in Miami Gardens, Florida Calder Casino'. CDI Calder. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
2. ^'Miami Gardens FL, Players Club Rewards – Calder Casino – Calder Casino'. Calder Casino. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
3. ^'Dining in Miami Gardens, Florida Calder Casino'. CDI Calder. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
4. ^ ^abc'Renovations Noted at 'Gulfstream Park West''. bloodhorse.com. The BloodHorse. September 30, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
5. ^https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pZIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N_MFAAAAIBAJ&pg=903,1147974&dq=tropical+park+closes&hl=en
6. ^'2000 Census Block Map: Lake Lucerne CDP'(PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. – Pages 1 and 2 – Compare this map to the address of the casino.
7. ^'Home'. Calder Casino. Retrieved 2020-05-12. 21001 NW 27th Avenue, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056 – Compare with the CDP map.
8. ^'City of Miami Gardens: Demographics'. 2009. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015.
9. ^ ^abFreer, Jim (July 27, 2015). 'CDI Plans to Demolish Calder Grandstand'. bloodhorse.com. The BloodHorse. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
10. ^Jon Roberts and Evan Wright (November 1, 2011). American Desperado. Crown. ISBN978-0-307-45042-5.
11. ^'Jockey Killed by Lightning'. St. Petersburg Times. December 29, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
12. ^Post Wire Services (December 29, 1978). 'Jockey Killed by Lightning'. The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved May 15, 2012.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 25°58′9.17″N80°14′26.3″W / 25.9692139°N 80.240639°W