Gulfstream Announces 2024-25 Championship Meet Schedule

By David Joseph —-

Gulfstream Announces 2024-25 Championship Meet Schedule

$5.55 Million Pegasus World Cup Day Saturday, Jan. 25

Meet Begins Thanksgiving Day

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gulfstream Park’s acclaimed Championship Meet, highlighted by the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 25 and the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 29, will launch its 2024-2025 season Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 and run through March 30, 2025.

The Championship Meet, the winter home of the top horses, horsemen and jockeys in the world, will play host to a total of 66 stakes races – 30 graded – totaling $15.025 million. Opening weekend begins with 2-year-old turf stakes Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Nov. 29, and the $600,000 finals of the Florida Sire Stakes Saturday, Nov. 30.

Pegasus World Cup Day will offer eight stakes races – seven graded plus two overnight handicaps – totaling $5.55 million. Along with the $3 million World Cup and $1 million World Cup Turf, the day will also feature the $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2), $200,000 Inside Information (G2) for fillies and mares, the $200,000 W.L. McKnight (G3) for 4-year-olds and up and $150,000 La Prevoyante (G3) for 4-year-olds and up fillies and mares, both at 1 ½ miles on the turf, and the $150,000 Fred Hooper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the main track.

The $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, for 4-year-olds and up on the turf, is expected to draw a crowd as are two overnight handicaps run on Gulfstream’s Tapeta track – the $100,000 Carousel Club and $100,000 South Beach.

In just eight years the Pegasus World Cup and Pegasus World Cup Turf have hosted Horses of the Year in Gun Runner, California Chrome, Knicks Go and Bricks and Mortar, as well as two-time Longines World’s Best Racehorse Arrogate. The race has also attracted runners from England, Ireland and Japan, as well as the world’s most noted celebrities and entertainers.

The Curlin Florida Derby highlights 10 stakes totaling $2.5 million – five graded – including the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, two 1 ½ mile turf events in the $200,000 Pan American (G2) for older horses and $150,000 Orchid (G3) for fillies and mares, and the $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) for 4-year-olds and up on the main track.

The Florida Derby continues to be the leader in establishing classic winners. There have been 46 Florida Derby starters that have won a remarkable 59 Triple Crown events, including 25 Kentucky Derbys.

Meanwhile, last winter’s Gulfstream Park Oaks produced Alabama (G1) winner Power Squeeze, Test (G1) winners Ways and Means, Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner Gun Song, and Monmouth Oaks (G2) winner Scalable.

FLORIDA DERBY DAY

STAKES SCHEDULE FEBRUARY
DATE STAKES AGE/SEX DISTANCE PURSE
FEB 1 Holy Bull (G3) 3yo 1 1/16 M $250K
Kitten’s Joy (G3) 3yo 1 1/16 M (T) $150K
Sweetest Chant (G3) 3yo Fillies 1 1/16 M (T) $150K
Forward Gal (G3) 3yo Fillies 7 F $150K
Swale 3yo 7 F $150K
FEB 8 Ladies’ Turf Sprint 4yo&up F&M 5 F (T) $125K
FEB 15 Royal Delta (G3) 4yo&up F&M 1 1/16 M $150K
FEB 22 Gulfstream Park Sprint 4yo&up 6 F $125K
MARCH
MAR 1 Fountain of Youth (G2) 3yo 1 1/16 M $400K
Davona Dale (G2) 3yo Fillies 1 M $200K
Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) 4yo&up 1 M $200K
Mac Diarmida (G2) 4yo&up 1 3/8 M (T) $200K
Canadian Turf (G3) 4yo&up 1 1/16 M (T) $150K
Honey Fox (G3) 4yo&up F&M 1 M (T) $150K
The Very One (G3) 4yo&up F&M 1 3/8 M (T) $150K
Herecomesthebride (G3) 3yo Fillies 1 M (T) $200K
Colonel Liam 3yo 1 M (T) $200K
MAR 8 Hurricane Bertie (G3) 4yo&up F&M 6 1/2 F $150K
Silks Run 4yo&up 5 F (T) $100K
MAR 15 Captiva Island 4yo&up F&M 5 F (T) $100K
Hutcheson 3yo 6 F $100K
MAR 16 Any Limit 3yo Fillies 6 F $100K
MAR 22 Texas Glitter 3yo 5 F (T) $100K
MAR 23 Melody of Colors 3yo Fillies 5 F (T) $100K
MAR 29 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) 3yo 1 1/8 M $1M
Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) 3yo Fillies 1 1/16 M $250K
Pan American (G2) 4yo&up 1 1/2 M (T) $200K
Orchid (G3) 4yo&up F&M 1 1/2 M (T) $150K
Ghostzapper (G3) 4yo&up 1 1/16 M $150K
Appleton 4yo&up 1 M (T) $150K
Sand Springs 4yo&up F&M 1 1/16 M (T) $150K
Sir Shackleton 4yo&up 7 F $150K
Cutler Bay 3yo 7 1/2 F (T) $150K
Sanibel Island 3yo Fillies 7 1/2 F (T) $150K
SIMULCAST EVERY DAY (Except Christmas Day) Note: Live race days are
subject to change. Please visit gulfstreampark.com for the most up-to-date
information.
NOVEMBER
DATE STAKES AGE/SEX DISTANCE PURSE
NOV 28 Wait A While 2yo Fillies 7 1/2 F (T) $100K
NOV 29 Pulpit 2yo 7 1/2 F (T) $100K
NOV 30 In Reality Div. (FL Sire Stakes) 2yo 1 1/16 M $300K
My Dear Girl Div. (FL Sire Stakes) 2yo Fillies 1 1/16 M $300K
DECEMBER
DEC 7 H. Allen Jerkens Hdcp. 3yo&up 2 M (T) $100K
DEC 14 Tropical Park Derby 3yo 1 1/16 M (T) $125K
Tropical Park Oaks 3yo Fillies 1 1/16 M (T) $125K
DEC 21 Fort Lauderdale (G2) 3yo&up 1 1/8 M (T) $200K
Harlan’s Holiday (G3) 3yo&up 1 1/16 M $150K
Suwannee River (G3) 3yo&up F&M 1 M (T) $150K
Janus 3yo&up 5 F (T) $125K
Sugar Swirl 3yo&up F&M 6F $125K
DEC 26 Via Borghese 3yo&up F&M 1 3/8 M (T) $125K
Rampart 3yo&up F&M 1 M $125K
DEC 28 Mr. Prospector (G3) 3yo&up 7F $150K
Abundantia 3yo&up F&M 5 F (T) $100K
JANUARY
JAN 1 Cash Run 3yo Fillies 1 M $150K
Dania Beach 3yo 1 M (T) $150K
JAN 4 Mucho Macho Man 3yo 1 M $150K
Ginger Brew 3yo Fillies 1 M (T) $150K
JAN 11 Sunshine Classic (FL) 4yo&up 1 1/16 M $75K
Sunshine F&M Turf (FL) 4yo&up F&M 1 M (T) $75K
JAN 18 Sunshine Sprint (FL) 4yo&up 6 F $75K
Sunshine Turf (FL) 4yo&up 1 1/16 M (T) $75K
JAN 25 Pegasus World Cup Inv. (G1) 4yo&up 1 1/8 M $3M
Pegasus World Cup Turf Inv. (G1) 4yo&up 1 1/8 M (T) $1M
Pegasus World Cup F&M Turf Inv. (G2) 4yo&up F&M 1 1/16 M (T) $500K
Inside Information (G2) 4yo&up F&M 7 F $200K
William L. McKnight (G3) 4yo&up 1 1/2 M (T)

Two big days with major preps for the spring classics lead up to the Curlin Florida Derby.

On Feb. 1, the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) is the featured event of a five stakes program that includes three other graded races – the $150,000 Forward Gal (G3) on the main track, $150,000 Kitten’s Joy (G3) and $150,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) on turf, both contested on the turf.

The final preps for the Curlin Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks is March 1. The nine stakes program – eight graded – is led by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), won by Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Dornoch last winter, and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2).

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH DAY

Gulfstream’s renowned 3-year-old series begins Jan. 4 with the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man followed by the Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby.

The 3-year-old filly series begins Jan. 1 with the $100,000 Cash Run at a mile, followed by the Forward Gal, Davona Dale and Gulfstream Park Oaks on Derby Day.

Gulfstream’s turf course will offer a plethora of opportunities for all horses during the Championship Meet. In December 3-year-olds and up will have the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens at two miles and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at 1 1/8 miles, while 3-year-olds and upward will have opportunities in the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3) at a mile and the $100,000 Abundantia at five furlongs.

From January through March, older turf horses and fillies and mares will each have eight turf stakes available at a mile or more. Five of the eight in both divisions will be graded. Turf sprinters will also have plenty of opportunities. Fillies and mares will contest the $125,000 Ladies Turf Sprint and $100,000 Captiva Island while 4-year-olds and up will contest the Gulfstream Turf Sprint and $100,000 Silks Run.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.