aharon5741
03-16-2009, 04:15 PM
I just came across this article from the Sun-Sentinel that was published back in January. It says that Calder is proposing a meet that will overlap with Gulfstream in 2010.
Has anyone else heard about possible Calder schedule changes for this year? I hope they still decide to start in April.
GULFSTREAM, CALDER FACE DATES-OVERLAP PROBLEM
Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) - Saturday, January 17, 2009
Author: Tim Dwyer STAFF WRITER
Year-round thoroughbred horse racing has been a constant in South Florida for decades. When and where it's offered, however, may be changing as early as November.
For the first time since 2002, one year after Hialeah Park closed, a shakeup appears to be coming in the area's racing docket. In preliminary filings with the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course have requested expanded live racing dates, which as it currently stands would involve an overlap of 20 weeks.
After Hialeah closed, Calder and Gulfstream divided up its dates, with Gulfstream expanding into mid-April then handing off live racing to Calder. Traditionally, Calder closes shortly after New Year's Day, making way for Gulfstream's winter meet.
Gulfstream wants to begin its live meet on Thanksgiving Day of this year. According to President and General Manager Bill Murphy, the track alerted local horsemen about its intentions to expand its calendar last fall.
"I would like to see us running in that November to April window," Murphy said. "It would give us an opportunity to showcase Gulfstream and all of the enhancements we have made in the last few years."
Murphy said last year he had conversations with a Calder official about the possibility of Gulfstream taking over the Tropical meet, which would begin Oct. 22.
However, Murphy said the ideal situation would be for his track to begin its meet in late November and run a scaled-back docket until the first of the year. He added the track submitted only 15 late-2009 racing dates, which would result in two or three dates per week.
Calder's intentions, however, aren't quite so clear. In an unexpected move, Calder requested live racing dates from Jan. 3 through May 21 of 2010, which will overlap the entire Gulfstream winter meet.
According to Michele Blanco, director of communications for Calder, it is a policy of Churchill Downs Inc., Calder's owner, not to officially discuss its submission of racing dates.
Sam Gordon, president of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said his organization was not made aware of Calder's intentions prior to the filing.
"They did not tell us one thing about it," he said, "so technically they are in violation of their contract with us."
Gordon said his organization isn't taking sides on the issue. He said the move by Calder is more of a counter to Gulfstream to force both sides to come to an agreement before March 31, when each track will have to adhere to their submission dates.
Gordon and Murphy agree that two tracks running on the same day would be bad for the sport.
"It is not Gulfstream Park's intention to run head-to-head," Murphy said. "I'm sure our corporate office and their corporate office would work to get a resolution."
One example of an awkward compromise could come as early as April. Murphy said it is his understanding Calder plans to open its 2009 meet on Monday, April 20, three days before the close of the current Gulfstream meet. Gulfstream is dark on Mondays, and Murphy believes Calder would not race again until the following Saturday, so there would be no simultaneous live racing during that week.
With Gulfstream intent on racing a few days this fall, the possibility exists the two tracks could alternate dates. However, Murphy said this would pose a problem with respect to simulcasting, as the track which is hosting the live meet controls the signal for the South Florida area.
In any case, Gordon is hoping the dispute is resolved.
"We've got to sit down and generate the most revenue for all of us," he said.
Kelly's Landing in Mr. Prospector
Kelly's Landing, an 8-year-old gelding with 10 wins, will look to regain his form from two years ago in today's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap (G3), a six-furlong sprint for older horses at Gulfstream.
Kelly's Landing, trained by Eddie Kenneally, won the Mr. Prospector in 2007 then went on to win the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen. However, he has won only once since, in an allowance race Oct. 17 at Keeneland.
Challenging Kelly's Landing will be Black Seventeen, which won in a 24-1 upset in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in September.
INFORMATIONAL BOX:
Current Dates
Gulfstream Park: Jan. 3-April 23
Calder Race Course:
(Calder Meet): April 20-Oct. 18
(Tropical at Calder Meet): Oct. 22-Jan. 2, 2010
Proposed Dates
Gulfstream Park: Nov. 26-April 18, 2010
Calder Race Course: Jan. 3-May 21, 2010
Has anyone else heard about possible Calder schedule changes for this year? I hope they still decide to start in April.
GULFSTREAM, CALDER FACE DATES-OVERLAP PROBLEM
Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) - Saturday, January 17, 2009
Author: Tim Dwyer STAFF WRITER
Year-round thoroughbred horse racing has been a constant in South Florida for decades. When and where it's offered, however, may be changing as early as November.
For the first time since 2002, one year after Hialeah Park closed, a shakeup appears to be coming in the area's racing docket. In preliminary filings with the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course have requested expanded live racing dates, which as it currently stands would involve an overlap of 20 weeks.
After Hialeah closed, Calder and Gulfstream divided up its dates, with Gulfstream expanding into mid-April then handing off live racing to Calder. Traditionally, Calder closes shortly after New Year's Day, making way for Gulfstream's winter meet.
Gulfstream wants to begin its live meet on Thanksgiving Day of this year. According to President and General Manager Bill Murphy, the track alerted local horsemen about its intentions to expand its calendar last fall.
"I would like to see us running in that November to April window," Murphy said. "It would give us an opportunity to showcase Gulfstream and all of the enhancements we have made in the last few years."
Murphy said last year he had conversations with a Calder official about the possibility of Gulfstream taking over the Tropical meet, which would begin Oct. 22.
However, Murphy said the ideal situation would be for his track to begin its meet in late November and run a scaled-back docket until the first of the year. He added the track submitted only 15 late-2009 racing dates, which would result in two or three dates per week.
Calder's intentions, however, aren't quite so clear. In an unexpected move, Calder requested live racing dates from Jan. 3 through May 21 of 2010, which will overlap the entire Gulfstream winter meet.
According to Michele Blanco, director of communications for Calder, it is a policy of Churchill Downs Inc., Calder's owner, not to officially discuss its submission of racing dates.
Sam Gordon, president of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said his organization was not made aware of Calder's intentions prior to the filing.
"They did not tell us one thing about it," he said, "so technically they are in violation of their contract with us."
Gordon said his organization isn't taking sides on the issue. He said the move by Calder is more of a counter to Gulfstream to force both sides to come to an agreement before March 31, when each track will have to adhere to their submission dates.
Gordon and Murphy agree that two tracks running on the same day would be bad for the sport.
"It is not Gulfstream Park's intention to run head-to-head," Murphy said. "I'm sure our corporate office and their corporate office would work to get a resolution."
One example of an awkward compromise could come as early as April. Murphy said it is his understanding Calder plans to open its 2009 meet on Monday, April 20, three days before the close of the current Gulfstream meet. Gulfstream is dark on Mondays, and Murphy believes Calder would not race again until the following Saturday, so there would be no simultaneous live racing during that week.
With Gulfstream intent on racing a few days this fall, the possibility exists the two tracks could alternate dates. However, Murphy said this would pose a problem with respect to simulcasting, as the track which is hosting the live meet controls the signal for the South Florida area.
In any case, Gordon is hoping the dispute is resolved.
"We've got to sit down and generate the most revenue for all of us," he said.
Kelly's Landing in Mr. Prospector
Kelly's Landing, an 8-year-old gelding with 10 wins, will look to regain his form from two years ago in today's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap (G3), a six-furlong sprint for older horses at Gulfstream.
Kelly's Landing, trained by Eddie Kenneally, won the Mr. Prospector in 2007 then went on to win the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen. However, he has won only once since, in an allowance race Oct. 17 at Keeneland.
Challenging Kelly's Landing will be Black Seventeen, which won in a 24-1 upset in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in September.
INFORMATIONAL BOX:
Current Dates
Gulfstream Park: Jan. 3-April 23
Calder Race Course:
(Calder Meet): April 20-Oct. 18
(Tropical at Calder Meet): Oct. 22-Jan. 2, 2010
Proposed Dates
Gulfstream Park: Nov. 26-April 18, 2010
Calder Race Course: Jan. 3-May 21, 2010