Gulfstream Park

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Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States.

1 History
2 Track attributes
3 Entertainment
4 Racing
5 External links

[edit] History

Sunshine Millions Day 2006.

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 came for Gulfstream Park came in 1972, when the track was awarded "middle dates for a 40-day January through March 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 sixth Breeders Cup.

In 1990, the track was purchased by Bertram and Diana Firestone. In 1992, Gulfstream Park changed hands again, this time to the Orient Corporation. In 1994, a half interest in the track was sold to Nigashi Nihon. The track was purchased by Magna Entertainment Corporation in 1999.

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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Entertainment

Tiffany, a former teen pop star from the '80s, performed at Gulfstream Park in 2003.

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.