Renovations Noted at 'Gulfstream Park West'
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Calder Casino & Race Course has undergone "extensive renovations" in advance of its fall meet, said lessee The Stronach Group, which has changed the name of the racing operation to Gulfstream Park West.
Earlier this year The Stronach Group, which owns nearby Gulfstream Park, struck a deal to lease Calder's racing operation from Churchill Downs Inc. Slot machines at Calder continue to be operated by CDI.
The meet, dubbed the "Gulfstream Park Fall Turf Festival," will run for 40 days through Nov. 30.The track code used in past performances and for workouts was changed from "Crc" to "GPW."
Gulfstream is leasing the racetrack, including 15 barns in the stable area. Officials in a Sept. 30 release said the barns have been completely cleaned and refurbished with fresh paint, wider shedrows lined with new footing, and newly installed electrical outlets. The stalls in each barn have been equipped with new eyehooks for buckets and stall guards, as well as custom-fitted mats.
The Calder turf course has been weeded, fertilized, and given additional soil.
"We went through each stall and through the barn area," said Bill Badgett, who oversaw the project for The Stronach Group. "We had to replace about 230 of the feed-tub holders, and we went around and put in about 350 eyehooks so people could have some place to hang their water buckets.
"We put virtually 1,000 pounds of clay at each end of the barn for the stalls. We wanted to go the extra mile to make everybody happy, and when they shipped their horses in from other racetracks, everybody would be very comfortable."
"The backside now has a freshness about it that was lacking previously," trainer Bill White said in a release. "I came here in 1986, so I've spent now more than half my life on the backside here at Calder. I was glad about Gulfstream taking over. I'm very excited, and I think a lot of other people are excited to have some new blood in here."
The meet will feature 23 stakes worth a total of $1.775 million. Highlights include the $600,000 Sunshine Millions Preview Day, featuring eight $75,000 stakes for Florida-breds, Nov. 8, as well as the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap and $100,000 My Charmer Handicap (both gr. IIIT), Nov. 22.