South Florida Horsemen Brace for Hurricane Dorian

As of midday Aug. 29, Hurricane Dorian was upgraded to a dangerous Category 4 storm, and although its future path is uncertain, the South Florida horse industry is taking steps aimed at minimizing any potential damage.

An advisory from the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association included links for tracking the storm via the National Hurricane Center or CNN's Storm Center and outlined procedures from Gulfstream Park to be followed once a hurricane warning is declared. The document also included a link to the Horse Disaster Checklist from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

According to Broward County Emergency Management Agency, Gulfstream Park is located in a mandatory evacuation zone and is required to be evacuated and completely shut down once a hurricane warning is issued for Category 3 storm or above. The following information was released by the track for horsemen stabled at Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream Park West, and Palm Meadows.

Weather Conditions and Procedures:

96-72 Hours Prior to Hurricane Warning IF Declared for South Florida: Gulfstream Park officials will communicate to horsemen and everyone on the backstretch about weather updates and to start the process of making sure everything in the barn area is put away (for example all wheel barrels, rakes, pitch forks, buckets, etc.—anything that could blow away that needs to be secured). Announcements will be made, texts will be sent out, and any other communication will be made.

Hurricane Warning: This condition is declared when the hurricane conditions are expected within 24 to 36 hours. Hurricane conditions include winds 74 mph or greater, and the evacuation process will be started then (if not sooner) once the warning is issued for a Category 3 or greater.

In the event a hurricane warning is declared for South Florida, horses and employees will have to be shipped to Palm Meadows Training Center. It is up to individual trainers to make shipping arrangements to leave the property and head up to Palm Meadows. Every horse will have a stall assigned beforehand, and all employees will have a place to stay during the time period they are at the training center.

Post-Event Recovery: As soon as it is practical after the storm has passed and travel on public roadways is safe, Gulfstream Park will begin its recovery operations. The property will need to be cleaned up to ensure the backstretch is back to normal living conditions for both horses and backstretch employees. An assessment of the property will be done, and once approved by Gulfstream Park management, it will be communicated to horsemen and plans will be made to ship back to the normal barns that were assigned.

Meanwhile, with the potential path of the storm also indicating it could affect the farm communities in northwest Florida, training operations near Ocala were mostly just monitoring the situation Thursday while taking preliminary steps to ensure there were sufficient supplies and backup power systems available.

"It's business as usual: just getting generators and supplies ready," said David O'Farrell of Ocala Stud.

"We're watching closely," Tom McCrocklin said. "Always preparing, yet always feel to some degree helpless."

"It looks like it could be a tough go," Bobby Dodd said. "The generators are hooked up and running. We're just waiting for the storm."

Gulfstream Park Horsemen's Information

Please find below important contact names and numbers:

Gulfstream Park Hurricane Hot Line: 954-457-7990

Gulfstream Park Key Telephone Contacts:

Joe Lopez, Operating Manager: 305-923-8949                           

Eddie Colleti, Stall Manager: 352-817-3366

Billy Badgett, General Manager: 516-641-2635                         

Chris Camac, Racing Secretary: 954-658-7661

Billy Rose, Security Director:  857-312-5048                               

Joe Russo, GPW: 917-613-5727

Dave Vivian, Backside Maintenance: 754-204-1151                                  

Marcelo Toledo, Health and Safety Director: 305-301-9690

Traci Ferguson, VP HR: 352-817-5112                 

Sid Buhagiar, Facilities Manager: 754-581-6411

Chip Spencer, Assistant: 954-816-4726

Palm Meadows Training Center: 561-731-3890

Michael Petro, Palm Meadows Mgr.: 240-565-5360

Horse Transportation

Brook Ledge Horse Transport: 800-523-8143 / 352-690-2000

Lorraine Horse Transport:  305-345-4196 / 352-622-2214

Sallee Horse Vans: 800-967-8267 / 352-622-2514