Gulfstream Handle Up 26 for Spring Opener; Eight Races on Thursday Card

By Jim Freer

Gulfstream Park opened its Spring Meet on Wednesday, with all-sources handle of $4.2 million, which was 26 percent higher than on that meet’s opening day last year.

According to Equibase charts, the precise numbers were $4,190,067 for Wednesday and $3,337,433 for April 8, 2015 which also was a Wednesday.

Both days were rain-free, and both had five turf races on a course that was listed as firm.

Gulfstream has eight races today with first post of 12:55 p.m. Six races are scheduled for turf. We will be tracking the card on our blog.

The conditions are listed as fast and firm.  According to the Weather Channel, there is a zero percent chance of rain in and around Hallandale Beach where Gulfstream is located.

There is a carryover of $281,467 on the Rainbow 6, which begins on the third race.

Gulfstream’s spring meet will extend through June 30. Full-year handle on its 2015 spring meet is not readily available.

The strong handle on Wednesday indicates an impact of simulcast interest following Gulfstream’s championship meet, ended on Sunday, in which it set its record for daily average all-sources handle with $9.5 million.

That broke the record of $8.6 million that was set in the 2012-2013 championship meet.

Elvis Trujillo rode two winners on Wednesday, when there were no other jockeys and no trainers with more than one victory.