Gulfstream Weathers Hurricane, Set to Race Sept. 16

Gulfstream Park held up well to the pounding of Hurricane Irma. Track officials announced Sept. 11 Gulfstream would resume live racing Saturday, Sept. 16, the track would open for training Tuesday, Sept. 12, and facility would open for simulcasting Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Training will resume at Gulfstream, as well as Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Tuesday morning.

With Hurricane Irma approaching the area, Gulfstream had cancelled its race dates from Sept. 7-10. The track had tentatively looked at racing on Sept. 13 but all racing will be cancelled until Sept. 16. Factoring in the decision on when to return to racing are challenges the region is facing in terms of power outages and clean-up.

Assessing the facility Monday morning in the wake of Hurricane Irma, P.J. Campo, Gulfstream's general manager and vice president of racing, said Gulfstream fared "very well" during the pounding South Florida took the past two days.

"First of all, people and horses are always our first priorities, and everyone is safe," Campo said. "The horses are all well, and those who work on the backstretch and live in our dormitories are all safe. Over the past two years, we have taken precautions to help our facility by installing a flood retaining wall and pump stations, and they worked. The stables were not flooded.

"Except for some minor damage to roof shingles on our older barns, we're ready to go. We are waiting until Saturday to resume racing because we have to wait for outside resources and utilities in the South Florida area like power, gas, and clean-up to catch up."

Trainer Kathleen O'Connell, who stayed with her horses at Gulfstream Park West, said the barns there held up very well. She said there was some flooding of the parking lot but no flooding in the barn area.