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Gulfstream Park Off to a Strong Start

Gulfstream Park Off to a Strong Start
 
February 11, 2011
By Kent H. Stirling, FHBPA Executive Director
 
 
A third of the way through its 2011 race meet, Gulfstream’s numbers are up–way up.  Which numbers you might ask?  The ones that display a track’s true success, numbers like live on track handle and interstate simulcasting numbers on the live race programs.  On track live handle numbers are up between 11% and 13% depending on whether you like your handle numbers compared by number of races or number of race days.  And that’s with more racing days with rainy weather than in 2010.  Those numbers for the same period of time are also up even when compared against 2009 when the weather was perfect.
 
Gulfstream ISW numbers, or out-of-state wagering, which clearly shows which winter track the North American bettor likes to wager on the most are up 2.5% to 5.1% versus 2010 depending on whether its per race or per day numbers, as Gulfstream has opted to run a few more races a week because starters per race is holding steady at close to 10 per race.
 
At this time paid overnights are $260,000 a day and total purses paid are $400,000 a day.  They would be considerably higher, but are not, because Tampa Bay Downs controls the intrastate simulcast market (which consists  only of dog tracks, jai alai frontons and a harness track) in the State of Florida from December to May every year.  A story for another day.