Gulfstream Park and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’
Association (FTBOA) announced Thursday that Gulfstream will host the 2014
Florida Sire Stakes.
The Florida Sire Stakes, formerly the Florida Stallion Stakes, is a popular
summer series of six races for two-year-olds sired by nominated Florida
stallions. The event was run the previous 32 years at Calder.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the FTBOA to bring the Florida Sire Stakes to
Gulfstream Park,” Gulfstream President Tim Ritvo said.
“Hosting the Sire Stakes once again shows Gulfstream’s commitment to building
a strong summer Thoroughbred program and strengthening Florida racing and
breeding. We are committed to increase purses and market and publicize the
Florida Sire Stakes to bring it back to its rightful status as a major
Thoroughbred event, one that produces stakes winners and champions. We believe
we can help build the Sire Stakes as we have the Claiming Crown.”
The Florida Stallion Stakes, created by Ocala breeder and owner Dan Lasater,
produced six Eclipse Award winners: Awesome Feather, the 2010 Juvenile Filly
champion; Big Drama, the 2010 Sprint Champion; Holy Bull, the 1994 Horse of the
Year and three-year-old champion; Smile, the 1986 Sprint champion; Brave Raj,
the 1986 Juvenile Filly champion; Not Surprising, the 1995 Sprint champion.
“FTBOA is excited to award our new and enhanced Florida Sire Stakes series to
Gulfstream in 2014,” said Lonny Powell, CEO of the FTBOA.
“Frank Stronach’s team, led by track president Tim Ritvo, really did a
masterful job in putting together a presentation that packaged both economic and
marketing related considerations into a very comprehensive and forward-looking
plan that really put the best interests of the Florida Thoroughbred breeder and
owner on the national center stage. Those elements, combined with their
outstanding facility and proven big-event experience as well as solid support
from the horsemen, should make our program a first-class event in every sense.
“As we look forward with great anticipation to working with Gulfstream as our
new host, we also salute longtime Florida Sire Stakes home Calder for their
laudable past efforts and thank them for the historic role they have played in
helping make Florida two-year-old racing some of the top racing of its kind in
North America. We look forward to our continued working with both tracks and our
friends at the FHBPA in making Florida-bred racing at all ages and levels even
more competitive and lucrative as a leader on the national breeding and racing
scene.”
“The purses of the former Florida Stallion Stakes Series have grown stagnant
over the last thirty some years,” Kent Stirling, executive director of the
Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said.
“By moving the event to Gulfstream the total purses will increase $300,000
and become more relevant again, and, of course, we are all aware of Gulfstream’s
ability to promote and market an event that was struggling, much as they did for
the Claiming Crown.”
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