Gulfstream Park
Located in Hallandale Beach, Florida, Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino hosted its first race on February 1, 1939. This track is one of the most beautiful in the United States, taking full advantage of the warm climate and its proximity to the Atlantic shore. Gulfstream Park hosts a variety of rich, high-profile races, including some important prep races for the Kentucky Derby.
Gulfstream Park Horse Racing
The turf course measures one mile in length while the dirt course is 1 1/8 mile long, complete with a one-turn mile chute. Gulfstream Park features a movable rail that alters the perimeter of the course by setting the rail inside or outside either course. Renovations include grandstand and clubhouse upgrades that increases enjoyment for fans and competitors alike.
Major Races and Events
In addition to taking on prominent races from the Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park has hosted prestigious races for more than a half-century. Grade 1 stakes include the Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap and the Donn Handicap while large Grade 2 stakes include the Holy Bull Stakes. The Sunshine Millions series provides the opportunity to compete for many different types of racehorses.
Pegasus World Cup
The Pegasus World Cup is a 1 1/8-mile dirt race for horses aged three and above. The race replaced the Donn Handicap on the racing calendar in 2017. It offers a $3 million purse, and perennially draws the best older dirt horses in the country. Though it is one of the newest traditions in horse racing, it is one of the richest races of the year and superstars like Arrogate, Gun Runner, and Knicks Go are among its winners.
Pegasus World Cup Turf
The only Grade 1 grass race at Gulfstream Park, the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf is a 1 1/8-mile turf race for horses aged four and up. The race replaced the Gulfstream Park Turf on the calendar in 2019. It got a great start when eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar started his championship season in the race.
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is a 1 1/8 mile race for three-year-old thoroughbreds with a purse of $1 million. This Grade 1 stakes was started in 1952 and is part of the road to the Kentucky Derby, in which competitors can earn a spot in the prestigious triple crown race by accumulating points in various races. The winner of the Florida Derby earns 100 points, enough to guarantee them a trip to the Run for the Roses.
Fountain of Youth Stakes
A Grade 2 competition that races three-year-old thoroughbreds at a distance of 1 1/16 miles, the Fountain of Youth Stakes was inaugurated in 1945. The $400,000 race offers 50 points to the winner, which makes it likely that they will make it into the starting gate as long as they stay healthy between the Fountain of Youth and the first Saturday in May.
Holy Bull Stakes
As a prep race for the Florida Derby, the Holy Bull Stakes is a Grade 3 competition with a purse of $250,000. Three-year-old thoroughbreds run a distance of 1 1/16 mile on the dirt track, although the distance of this race has fluctuated between one mile and 1 3/16 mile.
Best Online Sportsbooks to Bet on the Gulfstream Park Races
If you can't make it to Gulfstream Park for a day at the races, you can still be a part of the action by betting the races online! Betting on Gulfstream Park horse racing online is convenient since you can play from your phone, tablet, or computer – anywhere with an internet connection!
Online sportsbooks offer trusted payouts and market-leading odds, as well as lucrative bonuses that you will never find at the racetrack. Our expert reviews will help you find the best site for your betting style easily, including which site's bonuses will suit your betting style the best and build your bankroll the quickest.
These are the best online racebooks for Florida bettors to bet on Gulfstream Park races:
