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Gulfstream Has Yet Another Sensational Race Meet

May 28, 2013
 
While tracks around the country, including one seven miles away, show declines in handle almost every year, Gulfstream continues to buck the national trend.  Gulfstream probably advertises their racing product as much as any track in America.  You can’t drive down the highways in South Florida without seeing numerous Gulfstream billboards, you can’t turn on the radio without hearing a commercial for racing at Gulfstream and you can’t watch very much TV without seeing an ad for Gulfstream.
 
Does advertising work for Gulfstream?
 
During the recession, Gulfstream’s handle numbers were up every year, and this year was different only in how much they were up.  Gulfstream’s handle on their live product was up an amazing 20.3 percent and wagering on track on simulcasts was up 15 percent.  Gulfstream, whose out-of-state simulcasting handle has been the industry leader for winter simulcasting the last 12 years, made it thirteen consecutive years by increasing over 7.2 percent over last year.
 
Starters per race slipped slightly from 9.2 to 9.0 this year, but Gulfstream almost reached their record 392 turf races of last year, falling short by just two races.
 
Total purses paid daily was $411,274 up from $405,971 last year and daily overnights paid averaged $298,795 down slightly from last year’s $299,991.  It should be noted that while Gulfstream’s on track and ISW (InterState Wagering) numbers were each up, that their ITW (IntraState Wagering), or wagering in the State of Florida was down 6.1 percent on race days.