Up to $1.4 million in Florida Owners’ Awards available
The new year at Gulfstream Park brings new, lucrative opportunities for owners of Florida-bred horses. With up to $1.4 million in Florida Owners’ Awards available at the meet, your Florida-bred runner is eligible for big paydays.
An agreement between the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and Gulfstream Park has dramatically increased opportunities for Florida-bred runners at the Hallandale Beach oval, which opens its 79-day meet Jan. 3. To see full contract, click here.
All races during the meet – with the exception of stakes and races restricted to Florida-breds – will offer Florida Owners’ Awards totaling 30 percent of the race’s gross purse, up to $30,000 per race.
“We are pleased with the contract that was agreed to between the FTBOA, Gulfstream Park and the FHBPA,” said Jacks or Better Farm owner Fred Brei, the FTBOA’s first vice president and chairman of the Florida Stakes Committee.
“The contract provides more opportunities for Florida-breds, with a big emphasis on the 90 percent of horses that run in allowance and claiming races,” said FTBOA Executive Vice President Richard E. Hancock. “I’d like to thank (Gulfstream Park President and General Manager) Ken Dunn and (FHBPA Executive Director) Kent Stirling for all their efforts and suggestions in putting this agreement together.”
The $1.8 million Sunshine Millions is scheduled for Jan. 30, with three races to be run at Gulfstream and three more at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Gulfstream will host the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf, the $300,000 Distaff and the $200,000 Sprint, while Santa Anita will host the $500,000 Classic, the $300,000 Filly and Mare Turf and the $200,000 Filly and Mare Sprint. Two races were eliminated from the 2010 Sunshine Millions, and the total value of the races was reduced from $3.6 million in 2009.
For Florida-breds, one of the highlights of the meet will be April 24, when the track will hold the inaugural running of the $60,000 Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stakes. The event is for 3-year-olds and up who are registered Florida-breds sired by Florida stallions who have had seasons offered at the Florida Thoroughbred Charities live auction. A list of eligible stallions will be available on the FTBOA’s Web site, www.ftboa.com, by Jan. 1.
Florida Thoroughbred Charities benefits the Florida division of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and Dunn said Gulfstream Park will make a contribution to the charity in April.
Also on April 24 will be six to eight starter allowance races for Florida-breds worth $50,000 apiece. A starter allowance is a race open to horses that have run in a claiming race within a specified time.
“We think it’s going to add very nicely to the program that we have here,” Dunn said of the agreement. “It gives us a chance to feature Florida-breds, and the event day in April gives us something to focus on and promote after the (March 20) Florida Derby. It’s an opportunity to work with the FTBOA on something very positive. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do what we all want to do collectively, and that’s reward the people who support the meet.”
Gulfstream Park also will offer 10 starter allowance races for Florida-breds worth $30,000 each. One such race will be held each Friday from Jan. 22 to March 26.
“We’re obviously very happy we were able to work this out,” Stirling said. “It’s going to be beneficial for everybody, particularly for owners of Florida-breds. The Friday races and the grand finale in April will be very important to people with Florida-breds.”
In addition, Gulfstream will offer three Florida-bred-preferred races per day, up from one at the 2009 meet. The Florida-breds can be entered in the race ahead of horses from all other states and countries.
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