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There’s an old adage dating back centuries that describes Gulfstream Park: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
The fifth line of the saying relating to the wedding custom is often left out: And a silver sixpence in her shoe.
A sixpence minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967 was made of silver and worth six pennies. In 1530, racing in England took place at York and 10 years later Chester had its first racecourse
That was the era when two-horse match races for a private wager became popular among nobility. That’s why horse racing is still known as the Sport of Kings.
Something old reminds me of the Florida Derby that debuted in 1952 when Sky Ship defeated Handsome Teddy by a head when the purse was worth $24,750.
Five years later, I saw my first Florida Derby a year after graduating from the University of Miami accompanied by several classmates when the purse was valued at $123,600 on a beautiful, memorable March 30, 1957.
Only five horses ran, the smallest field along with ‘69, and that included two coupled horses, Calumet Farm’s Gen. Duke and Iron Liege.
The late, great Bill Hartack guided Gen. Duke to victory from off the pace, wearing down Bold Ruler to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths. The runner-up, ridden by equally famous Eddie Arcaro, edged Iron Liege by a head.
Fifty-one years later, Gen. Duke’s winning time of 1:46 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles remains the stakes record. The 57th running of Gulfstream’s showcase event, the Floriday Derby, worth $1 million will be staged March 29 and is an important prep race for the 2008 Kentucky Derby.
Something new applies to the latest wrinkles at the South Florida complex from a revised racing schedule and more indoor seating to a huge, ultra-comfortable simulcast room and added dining facilities that include the relocated South Beach landmark restaurant Christine Lee’s.
In a departure from recent years, racing will be held six days a week Wednesday through Mondays until mid-March during the 89-day meeting.
In addition, the takeout on straight bets has been raised from 15 percent to 17 percent. However, the Pick 6 rate was lowered by 5 percent to 15 percent while all other exotic wagers remain at 20 percent.
Outdoor saddling returns, which should please fans, except for inclement weather. More cameras were added throughout the facility to allow on-track viewers and patrons at simulcast centers a better look at the action.
Something borrowed applies to newcomers in key racing posts that face several challenges, which include increasing field size and maintaining purse structure.
“Maximizing field sizes is going to be our top priority this winter,” said new racing secretary Bill Couch, who holds the same job at Thistledown in Ohio.
Last year, Gulfstream averaged 8.6 horses per race. Couch is hoping for 9.2 to 9.5 per race this meeting. The year the track is trying to attract more Calder-based horses by offering one race each afternoon restricted to Florida-breds.
“If field size is strong and business is good,” Gulfstream Park President-General Manager Bill Murphy said, there is no reason why purses couldn’t increase before the meeting ends April 20.
Something blue relates to the disappointing revenue produced by casino games. When business failed to approach original projections, purses ended up being overpaid by several million dollars.
New racing manager Bernie Hettel and Couch had to deal with that overpayment from the 2007 meeting when overnight purses were increased 17 percent. So the stakes program was trimmed and some races were moved around.
Gulfstream Park altered its stakes schedule, spacing out graded stakes rather than featuring four or more on Saturdays except on Jan. 26 — Sunshine Millions Day.
Florida Derby Day features three events while there are five two-stakes days.
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Greg Melikov has been handicapping and writing about horses for decades. His articles and columns appear in print and on the Internet around the world. Greg is a retired newspaperman who became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, his favorite horse, whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park.
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Greg Melikov has been handicapping and writing about horses for decades. His articles and columns appear in print and on the Internet around the world. Greg is a retired newspaperman who became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, his favorite horse, whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park.
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