Gulfstream Reports Handle Spike at Spring, Summer Meets

Gulfstream Park, which concluded its 2018 Spring/Summer Meets the weekend of Sept. 29 with the finals of the $1.1 million FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes, witnessed a $50 million increase in total handle over the previous year.

Total handle for the Summer Meet was $369 million compared with $345 million in 2017 while the Spring Meet registered an increase of $26 million. Gulfstream, which began rebuilding Florida's Spring and Summer Thoroughbred programs in 2013, had total handle over the Spring/Summer of $783 million. 

Highlights of the Summer Meet included Arindel winning its second leading owner title and the $400,000 finals of the Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl division with Cookie Dough as well as trainers Armando De la Cerda and Victor Barboza Jr., finishing in a tie for leading trainer.

Total handle on the Sept. 29 finals of the Sire Stakes was a record $27.241 million, an increase of 23%, from last year.

"We're pleased with the way our Spring and Summer Meets continue to attract horsemen throughout North America and bettors both on-track and online," said Gulfstream general manager Bill Badgett. "With the Florida Sire Stakes and Florida summer racing program continuing to grow, and with more entertainment options throughout the entire year at the facility, we're excited about the future of year-round racing at Gulfstream as well as this fall season at Gulfstream Park West.

"We also continue to plan for a memorable Championship Meet beginning Dec. 1. With all our great events and big races - including the Pegasus World Cup Championship Series, Florida Derby, Clasico Internacional del Caribe, Claiming Crown and Eclipse Awards - the Championship Meet is going to be very, very special."