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30-503: Prior to 1955, the race was restricted to California-foaled three-year-olds and in 1958 and 1959 to three-year-olds and up. It was contested on dirt at 7 furlongs in 1952, 6 furlongs in 1953, one mile in 1954, and at 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles in 1962. The race was transferred to the dirt track in 1975 and in 1989 was started on the backstretch instead of its normal position on the hillside. Two divisions were run in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1970. In its 66th running in 2013, Bright Thought won with

60-556: A 110-ft, fire-breathing bronze statue of Pegasus slaying a dragon , at the time the world's largest equine and European dragon statues. Pegasus would also be the second largest statue in the US after the Statue of Liberty). The statues were completed that year in December. The site also includes rock features, fountains and a stage. The Gulfstream Park Handicap was first run in 1946. The year 1952 saw

90-582: A final time of 2:22.72, a world record time for 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles that stood for only one week; Twilight Eclipse lowered the standard at Gulfstream Park one week later. Speed record: (at current distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles) Most wins: Most wins by a jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park is a Thoroughbred horse race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach , Florida , United States . It

120-402: A four-day meeting. Its initial meeting attracted a crowd of 18,000. In 1944, the track was reopened by James Donn Sr. for a 20-day meeting in December. In 1952, a clubhouse was erected and an addition was put on the grandstand. Gulfstream Park introduced turf racing in 1959. The clubhouse was enlarged in 1961, and the then-world's largest totalizator board was installed in the infield. In 1972,

150-553: A meeting record with 60 wins. In 1989, Gulfstream Park hosted its first Breeders Cup World Championships, highlighted by the Classic match-up between Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Sunday Silence and Belmont Stakes winner Easy Goer . Gulfstream would host the Breeders' Cup again in 1992. Jockey Julie Krone took the Jockey's Title in 1993 with 98 wins. In 1994, Holy Bull won

180-441: A one-turn mile, a synthetic Tapeta track measuring one mile and seventy yards, and a seven-furlong turf course. Gulfstream originally had a one-mile dirt track prior to a 2004 renovation, which enlarged the dirt oval by a furlong and widened the turf course from 80 to 170 feet. A second renovation in 2021 replaced the outer portion of the turf course with a Tapeta surface. Gulfstream Park opened on February 1, 1939, conducting

210-435: A season. His last five seasons were at Spendthrift Farm . Swaps sired several dozen offspring, including 35 stakes winners. Among his most successful offspring were Chateaugay , winner of the 1963 Kentucky Derby and the 1963 Belmont Stakes , and the U.S. Hall of Fame filly, Affectionately . In November 1972, he was euthanized at the age of 20. He was buried at Spendthrift Farm , but his remains were moved in 1986 to

240-585: A split hoof wall in his right forefoot, incurred in January, had inflamed again. Returning to the West Coast, Swaps broke records all over the country at various distances. On turf and on dirt, and often under heavy weight, he broke or equaled six different track records in total. With much interest in a match race between Nashua and Swaps looming, a deal between the camps was reached for the colts to meet at Chicago's Washington Park on August 31, 1955. Swaps tuned up with

270-522: A win in the American Derby , setting a 1 3 ⁄ 16 mile course record of 1:54 3 ⁄ 5 on the turf. However, the day before the scheduled match race, Swaps re-injured his foot on a wet track. Nashua broke alertly under Arcaro, and he gained a tactical advantage on the lead. Arcaro's tactic forced Shoemaker with Swaps to get the worst of the poor footing. Nashua drew clear in the stretch to win easily. Nashua went on to earn 1955 U.S. Horse of

300-454: A winning performance on Feb. 11. In 1961, James Donn Jr. succeeded his father as president of Gulfstream Park. In 1990, the track was purchased by Bertram R. Firestone . In 1994, a half interest in the track was sold to Nigashi Nihon. In 1999, Gulfstream Park was purchased by Magna Entertainment Corporation , for $ 95 million. In 2010, the ownership of the track was taken over by Magna parent MI Developments Inc. (MID). Since July 3, 2011,

330-617: Is a 14,000 square foot entertainment and hospitality hotspot featuring a carousel bar and is located trackside at Gulfstream Park. The Gulfstream Park Casino was the first building to be constructed when Gulfstream Park first opened in 1939. It was the only building housing the main casino and scattered restaurants and bars. It was surrounded by an extra-large parking lot until 2010, when The Village at Gulfstream Park opened. 25°58′43″N 80°08′17″W  /  25.978474°N 80.13799°W  / 25.978474; -80.13799 Swaps (horse) Swaps (March 1, 1952 – November 3, 1972)

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360-462: Is among the most important venues for horse racing in the United States, and is open 365 days a year. The venue is owned by The Stronach Group . Thoroughbred horse racing occurs year-round, defined by three distinct race meets and one invitational: Gulfstream Park has three courses, each with a unique racing surface: A 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 -mile dirt track with a backstretch chute that allows for

390-683: The Kentucky Derby under jockey Willie Shoemaker , beating the heavily favored east coast star, Belair's Nashua , under Eddie Arcaro . Arcaro was quoted before the race that Summer Tan was the primary threat, which manifested the east–west division between the Swaps-Nashua camps. This rivalry culminated in a famous match race later that year. Nashua followed up the Derby with wins in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in which Swaps did not compete because

420-643: The Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky . A bronze of Swaps with jockey Bill Shoemaker was dedicated July 1, 1958. Its design and setting was created by Millard Sheets and the sculpture by Albert Stewart . The statue stood at the Hollywood Park Racetrack Clubhouse entrance gardens from 1958 until the closing of Hollywood Park in 2014 and is currently in storage awaiting placement near SoFi Stadium which

450-577: The Florida Derby while, in 1995, Cigar won the Donn Handicap and Gulfstream Park Handicap on his way to a perfect season. Meanwhile, in 1995, Florida Derby winner Thunder Gulch would go on to win the Kentucky Derby ( Monarchos would repeat Thunder Gulch's feat in 2001). Gulfstream again would host the Breeders' Cup in 1999. Hal's Hope, winner of the 2000 Florida Derby, would return in 2002 to win

480-530: The Gulfstream Park Handicap. The 2002 season introduced the first running of the popular Sunshine Millions , pitting Florida-breds against California-breds for purses totaling $ 3.6 million. In 2004, trainer Todd Pletcher started an unprecedented run of nine consecutive training titles. In 2006, Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey rode his last race aboard Silver Tree in the Sunshine Millions, and

510-578: The Year honors. Swaps did not race for the rest of the year as his foot healed again. Although occasionally troubled by the hoof after the recovery, Swaps generally performed well. At the age of four, Swaps was named Horse of the Year by Turf and Sport Digest after beating Nashua by 78 votes to 45, and topping a similar poll organized by Triangle Publications. William H.P. Robertson wrote in his "History of Thoroughbred Racing in America" that Swaps "entered stud with

540-599: The concert in standing room. Various singers and groups popular in earlier times perform at Gulfstream Park on their tours. The track was also host to the Miami Pop Festival from December 28–30, 1968, featuring over thirty performing bands and artists, including the Grateful Dead . In 2022, 1/ST EXPERIENCE in partnership with Breakwater Hospitality Group opened the Carousel Club at Gulfstream Park. The Carousel Club

570-531: The first running of the Florida Derby, the state's first stakes with a $ 100,000 purse. The 1955 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Swaps set a then world-record of 1:39 3/5 for a mile and 70 yards while carrying 130 pounds in the Broward Handicap . Gen. Duke equaled the world record of 1:46 4/5 in defeating Bold Ruler in the Florida Derby in 1956. In 1980, Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr. set

600-590: The fractures into his pastern joint . Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons , the trainer of Nashua, sent him a special sling from Belmont Park. He initially had to be raised and lowered every 45 minutes, and trainer Mesh Tenny stayed with the horse and performed the function for the first 36 hours. In November 1956, despite losing 300 pounds during the ordeal, he jogged away from his ordeal and was saved for stud duty. Swaps began at stud at Rex Ellsworth's farm, moving to John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky , after

630-416: The grandstand and clubhouse. Slot machines also were approved for the track. The renovation, first effective for the 2006 spring meeting, was criticized by racegoers and commentators, who felt that the new racino laid too much emphasis on the casino area, to the detriment of the racetrack's atmosphere. 2010 marked the beginning of The Village at Gulfstream Park, a 500,000-square-foot mixed use area, taking

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660-488: The great Barbaro would win the Florida Derby before making headlines with his victory in the Kentucky Derby. In April 2012, Javier Castellano , who collected his first Gulfstream title by riding a record 112 wins, scored his 3,000th career success aboard Virtuously on Feb. 24 and Todd Pletcher , who claimed an unprecedented ninth consecutive training title at Gulfstream with 72 trips to the winner's circle, recorded his 3,000 career victory when he saddled Spring Hill Farm for

690-518: The largest collection of recognized world records (five) in history, and a lifetime performance summary, as follows: 25 starts, 19 wins, two seconds, two thirds, earnings of $ 848,900." at 3: at 4: In October, while training for the Washington, D.C. International at Garden State Park , Cherry Hill, New Jersey, he fractured his leg in two places in his left rear cannon bone, then a week later banged his leg in his stall, breaking his cast, and extending

720-535: The place of a parking lot in front of the casino. The project was first discussed when Gulfstream planned the major renovation in 2004. The Village initially set fall 2007 and then fall 2008 opening dates. However, permit issues and the economy held back the project for many years. On February 4, 2010, the site officially opened to patrons heading to Gulfstream. In September 2013 the park announced another expansion, with construction beginning in March 2014. A highlight would be

750-664: The track has been owned by The Stronach Group . In June 2011, Tim Ritvo was named president and general manager of Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino. He was a prominent jockey and racing official at Suffolk Downs in the 1980s before establishing himself in the 1990s as a leading Florida trainer. Ritvo also had served as vice president and Director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association. In 2012, Stronach Group named Ritvo Chief Operating Officer of its Racing Division. On March 2, 2020, Ritvo stepped down as COO of Stronach Group-operated tracks, which include

780-479: The track is hosting the 14th running of racing's Claiming Crown . The Claiming Crown has become the most important event for horse racing's claiming runners, and Gulfstream Park is raising the purses for each individual race in honor of this. Gulfstream Park in recent years has been a concert venue, with performances taking place on the grounds outside the grandstand. Reserved seats to the concerts are sold in advance, and others paying normal track admission may watch

810-474: The track was awarded "middle dates" for a 40-day January through April meet. In 1982, the grandstand was again renovated and in 1984 a clubhouse renovation was completed. In 1986, the track added its Gulfdome, a domed dining terrace. Palm Meadows , Gulfstream's state-of-the-art training facility in Palm Beach County , was opened on Nov. 29, 2002. In 2004, Gulfstream Park began a $ 130 million renovation of

840-606: The troubled Santa Anita racetrack in California. He left to "pursue other opportunities". Gulfstream Park is owned and operated by 1/ST, the consumer facing brand of The Stronach Group. Gulfstream Park is home to the following graded stakes: (listed by grade and then year inaugurated ) Grade I: Grade II: Grade III: (listed by grade and then year inaugurated ) Non-graded: (partial list, listed Alphabetically) (FTBOA) Florida Sire stakes: On Opening Day, December 1, 2012, of Gulfstream Park's 2012-2013 meet,

870-457: Was a California bred American thoroughbred racehorse . He won the Kentucky Derby in 1955 and was named United States Horse of the Year in the following year. He was known as the "California Comet," and occasionally with affection, due to his wins despite numerous injuries and treatments, the "California Cripple." Swaps was a chestnut horse bred and owned by Rex Ellsworth . He was trained throughout his racing career by Mesh Tenney . He

900-616: Was the son of Khaled , a stallion imported from the Aga Khan's stud in Europe . His dam Iron Reward was a half-sister of the Kentucky Derby winner Iron Liege. Trained by Mesh Tenney (who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991), bred and owned by the once cowhand Rex Ellsworth, Swaps won his first 1955 start, the San Vicente Stakes . In May 1955, he won

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