Gulfstream Gears Up for 2004


There are many positive signs that 2004 will be a banner year for Gulfstream Park. They include:

*A roster of trainers that reads like the Who's Who in the racing world, including Scott Lake, with the most victories this year through Nov. 26 - 421. Lake is stabling horses for the first time in South Florida. Other notables include Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher, Barclay Tagg, Bobby Frankel, Bill Mott, D. Wayne Lukas, Christophe Clement, Kenny McPeak, Nick Zito, Allen Jerkens, Dick Dutrow, Mark Hennig and Allen Iwinski.

*A record number of applications (4,546) for stalls at Gulfstream or Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center, less than 50 miles north in Boynton Beach. Gulfstream accommodates 1,325 horses while Palm Meadows can house 1,440, twice as many horses as last year.

*More horses will mean fuller fields, maybe even better than last year's 8.9 average. And fuller fields should boost the handle over the 2003 records: $825.3 million during the 89-day meet, up 4.5 percent, and the $9.3 million daily average, up 5.2 percent.

*A record 160 nominations for the $1 million Florida Derby, a premier prep for the Kentucky Derby. Empire Maker, who won last year, took the 2003 Belmont Stakes. Funny Cide, who won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, is stabled at Palm Meadows and will be pointed toward the $500,000 Donn Handicap.

While total purse money of 41 stakes is down $100,000 to $8,505,000, graded stakes grew by one to 32. Three $100,000 stakes are scheduled opening day, Jan. 3, including the Hal's Hope Handicap, which may feature Funny Cide in a warm-up for the Donn.

Other stakes during the meeting that runs through April 25 include: Four on Sunshine Millions Day Jan. 25 totaling $1.55 million, three on the Donn card Feb. 7 totaling $750,000, three preps for the Florida Derby Feb. 14 totaling $500,000 and six stakes on the Florida Derby program March 13 totaling $1.51 million.

Topflight jockeys will return, including last year's leading rider, Eibar Coa. Others expected to journey south are Jerry Bailey, who captured three titles since 95, shares the most winners for a meeting (95 in '96) with two others and recorded the most single-day winners, 7; Jorge Chavez, top rider from '99 to '01; and Edgar Prado, '02.

Missing, however, will be trainer Mark Shuman and owner Michael Gill, who shattered Gulfstream records last year. Mark Shuman shattered Mott's 34 victories by 57 and Gill captured a record 88 races.
The copyright of the article Gulfstream Gears Up for 2004 in Horse Racing is owned by Greg Melikov. Permission to republish Gulfstream Gears Up for 2004 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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