Monday, November 30, 2015

All Sources Handle Grew 19% as Gulfstream West Meet Ends

Average daily all-sources handle grew 19 percent, to just under $3.6 million  per day at the 2015 Gulfstream Park West meet that ended on Saturday Nov. 28 at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Gulfstream Park, which conducted the meet, said on Sunday that GP west all-sources handle was $3.556 million for this years 40-day met.That compared with $2.988 million for 44 days at last year's inaugural GP West meet.

Gulfstream did not announce breakdowns of live handle or of other components of handle.

Gulfstream attributed the higher handle primarily to large field size, but did not provide any numbers.
Gufstream will begin its 2015-2016 Champions Meet on December 5th at its track in Hallandale Beach, FL.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Tampa Bay Downs - Joya Real Wins Lightning City Preview

Joya Real beat You Bought Her by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s opening day feature race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Imperial Secret finished third in the five furlongs turf race for fillies and mares three y/o and up. The race, billed as the Lightning City Preview, was a $100,000 allowance / optional claimer with a $28,000 purse. Daniel Centano rode Joya Real, who won in 56.11 seconds on a course listed as firm. After the race, trainer Kathleen Demasi indicated she expects to run Joya Real on December 19th in the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes.

Tampa Bay Downs’ next race day will be Wednesday at 12:25 p.m. On Monday we will have an analysis of the opening day and preview of the upcoming.




Tampa Bay Downs - Joya Real Wins Lightning City Preview

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Trainer Loza Secures 2nd Win Today at Tampa Bay

Divine Energy wins the 8th race at Tampa Bay Downs, giving Mexican born trainer Loza and owner St. George Stable their second win on the card. They won the 6th race with Ishaq.

Pedro Catto, Jr. rode both winners. Loza and his Calder-based team have Fascinate in the upcoming 9th race feature. It is 5 furlongs on turf for fillies and mares 3 y/o and up. It's a $100,000 optional claimer.

Zayas Wins Jockey Standings

Full Salute rallied to win $75,000 Buffalo Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park West (Calder) on Saturday. Cat Tree finished 2nd in the 6 furlong stakes for 2 y/o males.
Edgard Zayas rode Full Salute for trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr. and owner Morris Bailey. Zayas led Gulfstream Park West in jockey standings in the meet that ends today.

Race Update from Tampa

Through 7 races at Tampa Bay Downs, two winners have come from Monmouth Park, one winner each from Thistledowns, Canterbury Park, Keeneland and Indiana Downs.

The sixth race was won by first time starter Ishaq, who has been training at Calder for Efren Loza.

Jo Jo Cool Euthanized at Tampa Bay

Jo Jo Cool was euthanized humanely at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, after suffering injuries in a spill in the third race.

In the incident, coming around the turn, Jo Jo Cool tossed rider Jonathan Gonzalez. Horn Buckle tossed his jockey Jesus Rios, but continued on to  finish the race.

Rios was examined at a hospital, and according to track officials was not seriously injured.

Gonzales is being examined for an ankle injury at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.


Tampa Bay Crowds Happy Under Sunny Skies

Opening day at Tampa Bay Downs is evidencing large crowds at the rail, and a perfect weather day with part sun and 78 degree temp and low humidity.

Folks can sit in their lawn chairs on the north side of the track near the far turn and can bring their own food and drinks to the meet: a nice touch to make this a fan-friendly venue.

Two concession stands and the Riders Up bar are housed in the grandstand building, Nathans Famous hot-dog oriented food, and Metro Deli, a made-to-order sandwich stand. The lines were generally smooth moving. Nathans did run out of their BBQ pork near race 5, so an error there for the food staff. This reported was looking for that one. 



Cara's Nay Nay Wins First Distaff Leg of Tampa Turf Test

Cara's Nay Nay won the Tampa Bay firth race, the first leg in the distaff division of the Tampa Turf Test.
2   $6.20  $3.60  $2.80
8             $5.60  $3.801                       $4.60


The seventh race is the first leg of the make division.  It also is one mile.  We will report on today's two races later today.

Jo Jo Cool went down coming around the turn and tossed jockey Jonathan Gonzales in the third at Tampa.

Hard Buckle tossed rider Jesus Rios, but continued onward to the finish line.

Jo Jo Cool was treated in a covered tent. We will have more on this developing story.

Category Wins Tampa Bay Opener

Category, at 15-1, rallied along the rail and went on to win today's first race on opening day at Tampa Bay Downs.

Out of the  Woods finished second and Filberto finished third in the ten-horse field. They had  dueled for the lead during most of the race.

Chelsey Keiser rode the winner, in her first mount at Tampa Bay Downs. She is a 23-year-old native of Ohio, who has been riding  in Indiana and New Jersey.

Luis Domonguez, based in New Jersey, trains Category.

Tampa Bay Downs Opens Race Meet Today




Tampa Bay Downs will open its 2015-2016 race meet this afternoon with large fields, the prospect of ideal weather and a feature race laden with stakes-caliber runners.

First post is 12:22 p.m. for the ten-race card that has 121 entrants.

The Oldsmar, Fla. track’s featured ninth race is one of three opening day races on the turf. It is a $100,000 optional claimer at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. It has a $28,000 purse.


Ten of the likely starters finished second or better in a turf stakes sprint this year. They are Fascinante, Joya Real, Double Secret and You Bought Her.

Tampa Bay Downs (TBD) is billing the race as the Lightning City Preview. It is expected that many of the horses will run in the $100,00 Lightning City, also at five furlongs  on turf on Dec. 19.




The horses in the opening day races have been shipped into Tampa Bay Downs for the winter from approximately 15 tracks in the United States and Canada.




“That makes us unique and adds to the complexity of and excitement of handicapping,” said Peter Berube, Tampa Bay  Downs vice-president and general manager.




Trainers from around the country like the


Tampa Bay Downs treatment that they and their horses receive at Tampa. Officials expect that the track’s 1,400 stalls will be taken.  

TBD is one of just several US tracks where the ground is hard enough to have winter turf racing.











Tampa Bay Downs Opens Race Meet Today

Friday, November 27, 2015

GP West Preview: Six Stakes on Saturday

HorseraingFLA Staff Report

The Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder, will end its 40-day run on Saturday with six stakes races.


All of those races are for 2-year-olds and have $75,000 purses. They are part of an 11-race card that has a first post of 12:00 p.m.

GP West also will have 11 races today, with first post of 1200 p.m. None of the races are stakes.

Saturday’s Stakes:

Race 2: House Party– six furlongs dirt, fillies

Race 4: Smooth Air — 1 Mile Dirt, Males

Race 5: Pulpit — 1 Mile Turf, males

Race 7: Wait a While — 1 mile, turf, fillies

Race 8: Buffalo Man — 6 Furlongs Dirt, males

Race 10: Hut Hut –1 Mile Dirt, fillies


GP West Preview: Six Stakes on Saturday

We Will Have Live Coverage of Tampa Bay Downs Opening Day on Saturday

HorseracingFLA.com will be at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday for coverage of opening day of that track’s 2015-2016 meet.

From Friday through Sunday editor Jim Freer, business manager/photographer Barry Unterbrink and Tampa Bay correspondent Steve Buckner will have reports on this web site and on our blog

In addition, we will have coverage of Saturday’s closing day of the Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder.

On Saturday, GP West will have six stakes races–all for 2-year-olds.


We Will Have Live Coverage of Tampa Bay Downs Opening Day on Saturday

Thursday, November 26, 2015

GP West: Early Thanksgiving First Post of 11:40

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

The Gulfstream Park West meet will have ten races today with a special Thanksgiving day first post time of 1!:40 a.m.


Gulfstream Park is holding the meet at Calder, under a lease agreement with that track.


On Friday and again on Saturday, Gulfstream will have 11 races with first post time of 12:00 p.m. The Saturday card has six stakes races, all for 2-year-olds.


Saturday will be closing day for the 40-day GP West meet. On Dec. 5 Gulfstream, at its track in Hallandale Beach, will begin its 2015- 2016 championship meet.


Rainbow 6

There will be a $62,666 carryover today on the Rainbow 6.


And there is the prospect of a much bigger carryover on Sunday, the meet’s closing day, when there would be a mandatory payout of the full pool if the Rainbow 6 “jackpot” is not hit prior to then.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent per combination only bet on the day’s last six races, today the fifth through tenth.


At its own track and at the GP West meet, Gulfstream pays out the full Rainbow 6 pool (day’s bets plus carryover) only on days when there is just one ticket with all six winners.


On other days, Gulfstream divides 70 percent of the day’s pool (minus the 20 percent takeout) among tickets with the most winners and adds the other 30 percent to the carryover.


There were no tickets sold with all six winners Sunday, the most recent GP West race day. Tickets with five of six winners were each worth $3,782.46. The carryover has been growing since Nov. 8, when there was one winning ticket that paid $75,095.92.


A state law prohibits a track from continuing a multi-race carryover from one meet to another. Thus there is the requirement of the full payout on Saturday. Because of the mandatory payout there is the prospect that $200,000 or more will be bet on the Rainbow 6–and that the pool would be $300,000 or more.


When Gulfstream will start a new Rainbow 6 pool on Dec. 5 when it begins its 2015-2016 championship meet.



GP West: Early Thanksgiving First Post of 11:40

Large Fields Set for Saturday's Opening Day at Tampa Bay Downs

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

Tampa Bay Downs has 121 entrants, including also eligibles, for the ten-race opening day card it will have this Saturday.


First post time is 12:22 p.m. at the track in Oldsmar.


Three of the opening day’s races are scheduled for turf. There are no stakes races on the card.


The ninth and featured race, at five furlongs on turf, is a $100,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.


The race has a $28,000 purse, with scheduled post of 4:24 p.m. Eight of the 11 entrants (maximum of 10 can start) have run in stakes races this year.


Tampa Bay Downs is calling the race the Lightning City Prep. Track officials expect that many of the horses also will run in the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes, also five furlongs on turf, on Dec. 19.


Large Fields, Again


Last year, Tampa Bay Downs also had large fields on opening day–also the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Three were ten races with 101 starters. The number of entrants was not readily available.


The majority of Saturday’s entrants are from the barns of trainers who have shipped down from northeastern and midwestern states–and obviously are ready to run their horses.


Most of the races also have horses that have been racing at the Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder in Miami Gardens, Fla.


“We are delighted by the response from our returning horsemen and newcomers to Saturday’s program,” said Peter Berube, Tampa Bay Downs vice president-general manager. “The weather forecast is ideal, the main track and turf course are in pristine condition.”


He added: “As always, our primary focus is on the horses, and we believe the quality of racing keeps rising from year-to-year.”


Saturday’s Field


The field for the Lightning City Prep includes the 1-2 finishers in last season’s Lightning City Stakes–4-year-old filly Double Secret and 5-year-old mare You Bought Her. Both are Florida-breds.


Double Secret, who won the Lightning City Stakes last January at odds of 30-1, is owned and trained by Adolfo J. Exposito and will be ridden Saturday by Erick Rodriguez. You Bought Her, who was 37-1 that day while runner-up, is owned by Richard Perkins and Hinsley Racing Stable and trained by David Hinsley and will be ridden by Brian Pedroza.


You Bought Her followed her second-place Lightning City effort with a victory here in the Minaret Stakes on the main track in February and also finished second in the Grade II Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream in March.


Tampa Bay Downs will be closed on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and re-open Friday for simulcast wagering and no-limits poker.



Large Fields Set for Saturday's Opening Day at Tampa Bay Downs

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

GP West Meet to Begin Final Four Days

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

The Gulfstream Park West meet this afternoon will begin the final four-day stretch of its 40 days of racing.


Gulfstream Park is holding the meet at Calder, under a lease agreement with that track.


There will be ten GP West races today with first post time of 12:35 p.m. First post will be 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and 12:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.


The only stakes races during the four days will be on Saturday, when there will be four stakes for 2-year-olds.


(Note: The photo on the home page is of fans at GP West and was taken by Barry Unterbrink, business manager of horseracingFLA).


Rainbow 6


There will be a $55,905.76 carryover today on the Rainbow 6.


And there is the prospect of a much bigger carryover on Sunday, the meet’s closing day, when there would be a mandatory payout of the full pool if the Rainbow 6 “jackpot” is not hit prior to then.

The Rainbow 6 is a 20-cent per combination only bet on the day’s last six races, today the fifth through tenth.


At its own track and at the GP West meet, Gulfstream pays out the full Rainbow 6 pool (day’s bets plus carryover) only on days when there is just one ticket with all six winners.


On other days, Gulfstream divides 70 percent of the day’s pool (minus the 20 percent takeout) among tickets with the most winners and adds the other 30 percent to the carryover.


There were no tickets sold with all six winners Sunday, the most recent GP West race day. Tickets with five of six winners were each worth $3,782.46. The carryover has been growing since Nov. 8, when there was one winning ticket that paid $75,095.92.


A state law prohibits a track from continuing a multi-race carryover from one meet to another. Thus there is the requirement of the full payout on Saturday. Because of the mandatory payout there is the prospect that $200,000 or more will be bet on the Rainbow 6–and that the pool would be $300,000 or more.


Gulfstream will begin its 2015-2016 championship meet on Dec. 5, and will start a new Rainbow 6 pool that day.



GP West Meet to Begin Final Four Days

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Excitement Grows as Tampa Bay Downs Nears Saturday's Opening Day

From Tampa Bay Downs Press Office

The excitement level is rising on the Tampa Bay Downs backside as trainers get their horses ready for the 2015-2016 meet that will open on Saturday, Nov. 28th.


“There is always a lot of optimism at the beginning of any meeting, and you can feel the camaraderie with everyone getting their horses ready,” said trainer Bernell Rhone, who has been coming to Tampa Bay Downs since 1999.

“Everything seems to be positive,“ he said. “They’ve got good handle (wagering), large fields and good surfaces.

The horses always feel good when they get to a new place, and you hope they will improve.”


Rhone added: “But the competition here is tough. Everyone brings their better horses here from all over, and when you’re running your $20,000 horse against everyone else’s $20,000 horse, somebody has to run last.”


Racing at Tampa Bay Downs
Racing at Tampa Bay Downs

Rhone is an example of how trainers come to Tampa Bay Downs each winter from tracks throughout the eastern United States.

He was tied for fourth-leading trainer at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., this summer with 27 winners.

Horses have arrived the past couple of weeks from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Canada and even 90 minutes up the road in Ocala, Fla., to compete during the 91-day meeting that will have racing each week through May 8.

Post time for the first race on Nov. 28 is 12:25 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs will conduct racing on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays for three weeks before adding Sundays to the mix on Dec. 20. The track is closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

The most familiar face returning to the Oldsmar barn area is trainer Jamie Ness, a resident of nearby Odessa, Fla., who has won nine consecutive Tampa Bay Downs training titles (twice tying for the top spot).

Ness has saddled 2,390 winners in his career, and successfully took his show on the road upon the conclusion of Tampa Bay Downs’s last season. He won training titles at Pimlico, Delaware and Meadowlands.

He holds the single-season Oldsmar mark with 79 victories during the 2011-2012 campaign and led all trainers in North America three years ago with 395 winners.

His toughest competition for a 10th consecutive crown is likely to come from last season’s second and third-place finishers–past Oldsmar champions Gerald Bennett and Kathleen O’Connell.

Bennett led the standings for most of last season and saddled 43 winners, three behind the Ness total.


Trainer Kathleen O'Connell
Trainer Kathleen O’Connell

O’Connell sent out 39 winners and was the track leader in total purse earnings with $648,271. She is the trainer of 3-year-old filly Lady Shipman, who finished second in the T Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last month at Keeneland.

Other top returning conditioners include Arnaud Delacour, trainer of 2015 Preakness third-place finisher Divining Rod, and Tom Proctor, whose stable includes Grade I-winning 3-year-old filly Include Betty.

Also returning as trainers are Sandino R. Hernandez, Jr.; Jason DaCosta; Chad Stewart; Dennis Ward; Eoin Harty; Ian Wilkes; Dale Bennett; Joe Woodard; Aldana Gonzalez; Joan Scott; Rhone; and William “Buff” Bradley.

Antonio Gallardo will attempt to repeat as Tampa Bay Downs’s leading jockey, having set a track record last season by riding 147 winners. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who calls Tampa home, has won back-to-back riding titles at both Tampa Bay Downs and Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa., where he also holds the single-season mark.


Jockey Daniel Centeno
Jockey Daniel Centeno

Gallardo’s main competition this season should come from five-time track champion Daniel Centeno and Fernando De La Cruz, who finished second in the Indiana Grand standings this year.

The list of returning riders also includes four-time track champion Ronnie Allen, Jr.; Victor Lebron; Dean Butler; Ademar Santos; Pablo Morales; Scott Spieth; Jose Ferrer; Brian Pedroza; Erick Rodriguez; Ricardo Feliciano; Huber Villa-Gomez; and last season’s two top apprentice riders, Luis Figueroa and Janelle Campbell.

Newcomers expected to make an impact include Albin Jimenez, the leading rider at Indiana Grand, and Christian Santiago Reyes, who won an Eclipse Award as the nation’s top apprentice jockey in 2009.

Rosemary Homeister, Jr., a perennial fan favorite among Tampa Bay Downs regulars, has taken a leave of absence from riding to work in Hoffman Estates, Ill., as a personal fitness trainer and nutritional consultant.

Fans can expect a spirited competition for top owner honors. Last year’s race saw Dennis Amaty’s Amaty Racing Stables forge a tie on the final day of the meeting with Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc., Rich and Karen Papiese’s ownership entity that has won six consecutive Tampa Bay Downs owner crowns. Each won 23 races.

*Returning patrons will immediately notice an infield tote board that has been painted black to improve visibility and hopefully proclaim their skills at handicapping when results are posted.

* The addition of a Super High-5 wager, with a carryover jackpot from race to race when it is not hit, will provide bettors with additional opportunities for striking it rich.

*The stakes schedule begins on Saturday, Dec. 19 with Cotillion Festival Day, a racing card consisting mainly of 2-year-old horses, all of which turn 3 on Jan. 1, the shared birthday of all Northern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds.

The Cotillion Festival Day program will include the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes for juvenile colts and geldings and the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes for juvenile fillies, each at a distance of six furlongs.

Also scheduled that afternoon is the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes, at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares 3-year-old and up.


Excitement Grows as Tamp Bay Downs Nears Saturday's Opening Day

This Week at the Florida Tracks: Nov. 23 to Nov. 29



HorseracingFLA Staff Report

This Saturday Nov. 28 will be a transition day for Florida’s Thoroughbred tracks.

It will be opening day for the 2015-2016 race meet at Tampa Bay Downs, with first post at 12:25 p.m.

It will be closing day for the Gulfstream Park West meet, being conducted by Gulfstream Park at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens.

On Saturday, Dec. 5 racing in South Florida will be shifted eight miles east to Gulfstream in Hallandale Beach for opening day of Gulfstream’s 2015-2016 championship meet.

Tampa Bay Downs Racing

The Oldsmar track will begin with racing three days a week–Saturdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It will add Sundays on Dec. 20 and, with three exceptions, have four-day race weeks for most of its meet that will extend through next May 8.

It will have racing on Thursday Feb. 18 and Thursday Feb. 25 and be dark on Easter Sunday, March 27.

Tampa Bay Downs’s opening day entries will be out on Tuesday afternoon. No stakes races are scheduled for the card.

Tampa Bay Down’s first stakes races are scheduled for Dec. 19. It will have the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes for 2-year-old males and the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, each at six furlongs on dirt. Also scheduled that afternoon is the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes, for fillies and mares 3-yers-old and up at five furlongs on turf.

Tampa Bay Downs will be open for simulcasting each day prior to the start of its meet and on dark days during its meet.

GP West Racing

GP West this week will have racing Wednesday through Saturday. Daily first post time is 12:35 p.m.

On Saturday, Gulfstream will have six stakes races–all for 2-year-olds with $75,000 purses.

Gulfstream will have daily simulcasting until the start of its championship. It will have simulcasting on dark days during that meet.

Gulfstream will have the Claiming Crown on Dec. 5, making it the fourth straight year it is holding the event.

Calder will not be open for simulcasting after the end of the GP West meet.CalderMediaBadge

Calder Casino

21001 N.W. 27th Ave.

Miami Gardens, FL 33056

(305) 624-1311

Calder Web site

For information on the racing at GP West (Calder), use the Gulfstream Park contact information listed below.

* Live racing — Wednesday through Sunday, first post is 12:35 p.m.

Casino — Open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays

Gulfstream ParkGSP 1939 Cap

901 S. Federal Highway

Hallandale Beach, Fla. Phones — (954) 454-7000
Gulfstream Park Website

* Simulcast wagering — seven days a week with more than 30 thoroughbred and harness tracks; open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.

* Casino — the two casino rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays

* Poker — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tampa Bay DownsTBDowns_Logo

11225 Race Track Road, Tampa, Florida 33626

Main Phone (813) 855-4401

Toll Free (In Florida) (866)-TBDOWNS (823-6967)
Tampa Bay Downs Website

Tampa Bay Downs will resume live racing on Nov. 28th.

Prior to then, it is open seven days a week for afternoon and evening simulcasts of thoroughbred races from more than 20 tracks. A schedule may be obtained by calling the numbers listed above.

*The Silks Poker Room hours of operation: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.

The Downs Golf Practice Facility hours of operation:

Pro Shop: 8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. daily (Last bucket sold at 7:45 p.m.)

Range: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily

Short Game Area: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily (lights out at 9:45 p.m.


This Week at the Florida Tracks: Nov. 23 to Nov. 29

Monday, November 23, 2015

Jockey Homeister Leaves Racing to Become Personal Trainer, Fitness Adviser

Comments welcome below

(Note: This is an expanded version of an article posted Nov. 21 on HorseracingFLA.com)

By Jim Freer

Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. is taking what she calls a leave of absence from riding and has started a career as a personal fitness trainer and nutrition adviser.

“This is not a retirement,” said Homeister, who is second to the retired Julie Krone in all-time wins among female jockeys in North America.

Rosemary Homeister Jr.with daughter Victoria Rose
Rosemary Homeister Jr.with daughter Victoria Rose

In a phone interview this past week, the 43-year-old Homeister said she is not ruling out a return as a jockey. But she emphasized that she feels the timing is right for a career change, partly to cut down on travel so that she can spend more time with her four-year-old daughter Victoria Rose.

For most of the past decade, Homeister has spent winters riding at Tampa Bay Downs and the remainder of the year based in Chicago while riding mostly at Arlington Park and Hawthorne.

Homeister was fourth in victories with 42 during Tampa Bay Downs’s 2014-2015 meet. Officials of the track in Oldsmar had expected that she would ride in its 2015-2016 meet, for which opening day is Saturday Nov. 28.

But Homeister recently told The Tampa Bay Downs publicity office that she instead is staying in the Chicago area to work as a personal trainer and launch a fitness and nutritional advice web site.

(Note: The photo on the home page is of Rosemary Homeister Jr. riding at Tampa Bay Downs in April 2015.  It was taken by Steven Buckner, our Tampa Bay correspondent and photographer).

She is starting as a personal fitness instructor at Heroic Fitness in Hoffman Estates, Ill., where she already has a base of several clients.

Homeister said she is fulfilling “a passion for helping people stay fit and have a healthier lifestyle by improving their diet and nutrition.”

Record as Jockey

For 23 years, Homeister has shown a passion and dedication to her work as a jockey.

She has 2,784 wins. Krone has 3,704.

“It would take at least five years and maybe ten to catch Julie, but that has never been my focus,” Homeister said. “I want to spend as much time as I can with my daughter and be the best mom that I can be.”

Homeister also has won legions of loyal fans through the combination of her riding skills and outgoing personality.

She is a native of Hollywood, Fla., and grew up in that city that is near Calder Casino & Race Course and Gulfstream Park.

Her late father James Homeister and her mother Rosemary Homeister Sr. were both jockeys. Rosemary Sr. is a trainer who raees horses at Gulfstream and at the Gulfstream Park West meet now being run at Calder.

Rosemary Jr. began her jockey career in 1992 at Calder. She won 172 races that year and earned the Eclipse Award as champion apprentice jockey.

Calder was her April to December track during the first half of her career. She has won 1,037 races at Calder, putting her among that track’s top ten in all-time wins. She led jockeys in victories at the 1992-1993 Tropical at Calder meet.

Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr.
Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr.

In addition, Homeister led jockeys in victories at Hialeah Park in 2001. That was the most recent year in which Hialeah had thoroughbred racing.

Homeister said her biggest racing thrills included riding in a Kentucky Derby, a Breeders’ Cup race and a Kentucky Oaks. All of those races are Grade 1.

She finished 13th on Supah Blitz in the 2003 Kentucky Derby. As the only female jockey in the race, she was a celebrity in Louisville during the week before the Derby.

“It was an unforgettable experience,” she said. “Everywhere we went, people knew me. Some of stores put up signs that said ‘Go Rosemary.’”

When Homeister and her mother arrived at Churchill Downs on Derby Day they were taken to a reception where they met, among others, Donald Trump and daytime TV star Susan Lucci.

“They were as excited as we were excited to meet them,” Homeister said.

Prior to the Kentucky Derby, Homeister at Gulfstream rode Supah Blitz to a fourth place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and a second place finish in the Fountain of Youth which was then a Grade 1 race. Supah Blitz was trained by Manny Tortora, the all-time winning trainer at Calder.

In 2009, Homeister finished second on Cloudy’s Knight in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park.

This year, she rode Include Betty to a ninth place finish in a field of 14 in the Kentucky Oaks

Earlier in 2015, she rode Include Betty to victories in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and in the Fantasy Stakes (Grade 3) at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Homeister retired from riding in late 2004 and became a real estate agent in South Florida. She returned to riding in 2006, when the housing market was in early stages of what would be an epic downturn.

In addition to her real estate license, Homeister has a personal trainer’s certification and is a notary public. She is studying to earn a sports nutritionist certification.

Back-up Plan

“I have always had a back-up plan in place,” Homeister said. “As a jockey, you can get hurt any time. I wanted to be ready to make a change if I needed to stop riding.”

Homeister’s injuries from spills in races have included a broken hip and two broken arms

She noted that jockeys always need to focus on diet and exercise to keep their weight down.

Like other jockeys, she has needed to work out to maintain a fitness level while recovering from injuries.

In addition, Homeister gained 50 pounds during her pregnancy. She learned more first-hand about fitness training and nutrition while losing weight to return to riding in 2013.

Rosemary Homeister Jr. as personal trainer
Rosemary Homeister Jr. as personal trainer

Homeister’s Web sites jockeyrosefitclub.com

http://www.jockeyrosefitclub.com/ and jockeyrose.com http://www.jockeyrose.com/

Have information about her work as a fitness instructor and in distributing nutritional products, as well as her guidance about exercise and eating right,

Homeister said she plans to live in the Chicago area for several years and then move to the Tampa Bay area.

And while not using the word “retirement,” she is talking as if she has ridden her last race.

“I have loved the fans and the horses, and have had a lot of excitement over 20-plus years,” she said. “I decided it was time to stop. I am thankful that I can walk away on my own terms.”

Homeister’s most recent race ride was in the eighth at Arlington Park in Sept. 26. She rode Spark Kit to a second place finish.

Whether or not that was her last race as a jockey, one thing can be said in certainty: Rosie, it has been a great ride for you and your family, friends and fans. You have made a lasting mark on thoroughbred racing, especially in Florida,


Jockey Homeister Leaves Racing to Become Personal Trainer, Fitness Adviser

Sunday, November 22, 2015

At GP West: Sunny But Off theTurf

The sun is out in Miami Gardens and the fifth race is coming  up at GP West.  It is one of five races taken off turf following yesterday's deluge..

This is the first time in the 36-day old meet that all races are off turf.  It likely will result in one of the lowest weekend handle days of the meet,
-- Jim Freer

Lady Lara, Lochte Win Soggy GP West Turf Stakes

 


By Jim Freer

Lady Lara and Lochte were the winners in Saturday’s Grade 3 turf stakes at a rain-drenched Calder Casino & Race Course, the site of the Gulfstream Park West meet.


Lady Lara beat Hope Cross by 1 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 My Charmer at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares 3-yeaes-old and up. The My Charmer was the fourth race, and was run in a light rain.


The rain became heavy several minutes after the My Charmer.


It was a downpour during the sixth race, the $100,000 Tropical Turf at 1 1/16 miles for males 3-years-old and up. Lochte beat Flashlight by four lengths on a course still listed as firm.


Gulfstream, which is running the meet, moved the eighth and tenth races from turf to dirt. Our records show it was the first time races have been taken off turf since the GP West meet’s opening day Oct. 7.


Saturday was the 35th day of the 40-day meet that will end Nov. 28).


(Note: Ten races are scheduled for Gulfstream Park West today, with first post at 12:35 p.m. Five of the races are scheduled for turf.


As of 9:00 a.m., it was not raining at Calder in Miami Gardens and no decision had been announced on whether any races will be taken off the turf. The forecast is for an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms his afternoon. We will monitor and have reports on our blog


My Charmer

Jose Lezcano rode Lady Lara, the 8-5 favorite, who won in 1:43.32 in a light rain on the course listed as firm.


Sandiva finished third, a nose behind Hope Cross. The win was the second in two starts in Florida for the Irish-bred Lady Lara who is trained by Bill Mott.


Last March 29, she beat Sandiva by a neck in the one mile Honey Fox (Grade 2) on the turf at Gulfstream.


Note — the photo on the home page shows Mott and Lezcano  with Lady Lara after the My Charmer.


Mott said he expects to run Lady Lara in several turf races at the Gulfstream Park championship meet that will begin Dec. 5.


Lochte Splashes to Victory in the Tropical Turf

Lochte Splashes to Victory in the Tropical Turf


Tropical Turf

Lochte, at 3-1, raced in third place most of the race.

He began gaining ground coming around the turn and took the lead a furlong from the finish. He pulled away to win by four lengths over Flashlight.


Lochte won in 1:50.95–a slow time for stakes horses, and it can attributed to the rain.


Matt Rispoli rode Lochte for trainer Marcus Vitali and owner Crossed Sabres Farm. It was Lochte’s third win in a row, all on turf with Rispoli riding.


Lochte won the Mr. Steele at Gulfstream on Sept. 27 and the Spider John at Calder on Oct. 25.


Vitali indicated that he expects to run Lochte in several turf stakes at Gulfstream over the next several months.


–Photos by Lauren King, Gulfstream Park



Lady Lara, Lochte Win Soggy GP West Turf Stakes

Saturday, November 21, 2015

GP west: Lady Lara, Lochte Win on a Rainy Saturday

Lady Lara and Lochte were the winners in Saturday's turf stakes  at the Gulfstream Park West meet.
Lady Lara took the lead in mid stretch and beat Hope Cross by 1 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 My Charmer (Grade 3) at 11/16 miles on turf.
Jose Lezcano rode Lady Lara, the 8-5 favorite, who won in 1:43.32 in a light  rain on the course listed as firm.
Sandiva finished third, a  nose behind Lady Lara.
The win was the second in two starts in Florida for Lady Lara who is trained by Bill Mott.  Last March 29, she beat Sandiva by a neck in the one mile Honey Fox (Grade 2) on the turf at Gulfstream Park.
A light rain was falling during the My Charmer, the fourth race.  
Rain soon turned heavy and the $100,000 Tropical Turf (Grade 3), the sixth race,  was run in a downpour. The course was still listed as firm.
Lochte, at 3-1, raced in third place most of the race. 
He began gaining ground coming around the turn and took the lead a furlong from the finish. He pulled away to win by four lengths over Flashlight.
Lochte won in 1:50.95--a slow time for stakes horses,  and it can attributed to the rain.
Matt Rispoli rode Lochte for trainer Marcus Vitali and owner Crossed Sabres Farm.
It was Lochte's third win in a row, all on turf  with Rispoli riding.
Lochte won the Mr. Steele at Gulfstream on Sept. 27 and the Spider John at Calder on Oct. 25.
--Jim Freer

GP West -- Rain stopped; 8th off Turf

Rain has stopped, but the eighth race  is off the turf at Calder (Gulfstream Park West).
It will be seven furlongs on dirt, now listed as sloppy. No  word yet on the tenth race, scheduled for turf.
Our records show that there have been only two races taken off turf at this year's GP West meet.  Both were on Oct. 7, opening day.
--Jim Freer

Lochte Wins Tropical Turf in Driving Rain

Lochte pulled ahead in the final furlong and beat Flashlight by about two lengths in a driving rain in the $100,000 Tropical Turf (Grade 3) at the GP West meet.
More to come
--Jim Freer

Lady Lara Wins My Charmer, Rain Now Heavier

Lady Lara beat Hope Cross by about a length  in the $100,000 My Charmer Stakes at the Gulfstrea,m Park  West meet.
Lady Lara won in a light rain. in the day's fourth race.
A heavy rain is falling as the fifth aproaches.  The Tropical Turf is the sixth.  It is stillon the turf.
-- Jim Freer

GP West: No Rain Yet, As Stakes Approach

We  are at GP West, witht the third race coming up. No rain yet, but skies are cloudy in Miami Gardens.
The My Charmer is the fourthh race at 2:05and the Tropical Turf is the sixth at 3:05
--Jim Freer

GP West Today: Tropical Turf and My Charmer, Both Grade 3

By Jim Freer

The Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder, today will have two Grade 3 stakes races at 1 1/16 miles on turf with $100,000 purses.

The My Charmer is for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. It is the fourth race with scheduled post of 2:05 p.m.

Sandiva, Kitten’s Dumplings and Lady Lara are likely favorites. There are ten entrants if the race stays on turf, which is likely.

Sandiva and Lady Lara each won a turf stakes at Gulfstream Park during the last twelve months. Both are making their first start on the Calder turf.

Kitten’s Dumplings is one-for-one on that surface. On Oct. 24 she was the very impressive winner of the 1 1/8 mile Little Miss Magic Stakes.

The Tropical Turf is for males 3-years-old and up. It is the sixth race with scheduled post of 3:05 p.m.

Lochte is the likely favorite. He is coming off a turf stakes win at the GP West meet, and that followed a turf stakes win at Gulfstream Park. There are nine entrants if the race stays on turf.

(Note:  In the photo on the home page, Lochte is shown  winning the Mr. Steele Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sept.  27)

The Tropical Turf and My Charmer are the only two graded stakes races of the 40-day GP West meet, which will end Nov. 28.

GP West will have ten races today, with first post of 12:35 p.m.

We will have on-site coverage of the two stakes races on our blog http://insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com/

Later today on this Web site, we will have coverage of the GP West stakes and other Florida racing news.

Friday Results

African Fighter, in her first start on the Calder track, beat Karlyrae’swarrior by 6 ¼ lengths in Friday’s featured ninth race.

It was a $16,000 optional claimer, with a $39,000 purse, at one mille on dirt for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

African Fighter, trained by Todd Pletcher, was in eighth and last place after a half mile. She then made a sustained move, took the lead entering the stretch and drew away.

African Fighter, the 9-5 favorite, was ridden by Eddie Castro and won in 1:38.33. During the summer, she ran in higher level allowance and optional claming races at Saratoga and at Belmont Park.

Her win on Friday was Pletcher’s 13th of the GP West meet.

He is in third place in the trainers’ standings. Antonio Sano, who led GP West trainers in wins last year, and Jorge Navarro each have14 and are tied for the lead.

Pletcher led trainers in wins during each of the last 12 Gulfstream Park championship meets winter meets). The 2015-2016 winter meet will open on Dec. 5 and Pletcher will be favored to run his streak to 13.

In 2014, Pletcher had ten wins at GP West This year, compared with recent Octobers, he sent a larger number of “early arrivals” to his winter base at Palm Beach Downs in Delray Beach.


GP West Today: Tropical Turf and My Charmer, Both Grade 3

Friday, November 20, 2015

Maker Trainee and Pletcher Duo Look Strong for GP West Feature


Conditions are fast and firm at Calder, site of the  Gulfstream  Park West  meet--and  speed is generally holding up  on the dirt as it did yesterday.

Scheduled post is 4:35 p.m.  for the  ninth and feature race. It is one mile on dirt for 3-year-olds and up and is 
a $16,000 optional claimer with a $39,000 purse.

The 8-year-old Palatine Hill and Bluegrass Luck loom as early speed.  But they could  find it difficult to hold off Tiger of Wales who is trained by  Mike Maker and will be riddbn by Tyler Gaffalione.

Tiger of Wales has been looking strong at this distance and level.   This summer and fall  he has two wins  and a  second place finish in three starts at Gulfstream  Park and a second  place finish in his only start at GP West this year.

Todd Pletcher has a pair of contenders, both owned by Sumaya Us Stable.  They are African Fighter  and Morning Dancer--racing as separate betting interests.


The former has been racing against tougher at Saratoga and Belmont and has Eddie Castro riding  The latter has been racing Chile and has had some fast workouts at Palm Beach Downs. Edgard  Zayas has the mount.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Homeister Halts Jockey Career to Work as Fitness Trainer


By Jim Freer

Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. is taking what she calls a leave of absence from riding and has started a career as a personal fitness trainer and nutrition adviser.

“This is not a retirement,” said Homeister, who is second to the retired Julie Krone in all-time wins among female jockeys in North America.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, the 43-year-old Homeister said she is not ruling out a return as a jockey. But she emphasized that she feels the timing is right for a career change, partly to cut down on travel so that she can spend more time with her four-year-old daughter Victoria Rose.

Krone has 3,704 lifetime wins, and Homeister has 2,784.

For most of the past decade Homeister has spent winters riding at Tampa Bay Downs and the remainder of the year based in the Chicago while riding mostly at Arlington Park and Hawthorne.

Officials of the track in Oldsmar had expected that she would ride in its 2015-2016 meet, for which opening day is Saturday Nov. 28.

Late last week Homeister told The Tampa Bay Downs publicity office that she instead is staying in the Chicago area to work as a personal trainer and launch a fitness and nutritional advice web site.

She is starting as a personal fitness instructor at Heroic Fitness in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Later today we will have more details about Homeister's plans for her new career and details about her career as a jockey--where she has gained huge popularity with fans because of her riding skills and her outgoing personality.

GP West: Ten Races Today; Two Stakes on Saturday



HorseracingFLA Staff Report

The Gulfstream Park West meet,  being held at Calder, will have ten races today with first post of 12:35 p.m.

The featured ninth race, at six furlongs on dirt, is a $16,000 allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

The race has a $39,000 purse and 11 entrants, following the morning scratch of Fiesta Rose.

Boheme de Lavi, Bikini Girl and Mom’z Laugh are likely favorites. Tar and Feather, trained by Stan Gold for Jacks or Better Farm, could be a live longshot.

Saturday Stakes

On Saturday, GP West will have the only two graded stakes races of its meet.

The $100,000 Tropical Turf (Grade 3) is 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and up.  The $100,000 My Charmer (Grade 3) is 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and  mares 3-years-old and up.

We will have previews of the two races on Saturday morning.

Wednesday Results

Cali Star, in her first race for trainer Marty Wolfson beat the 4-5 favorite Danessa Deluxe by five lengths in Wednesday’s feature–at one mile on dirt for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

It was a $62,500 optional claimer with a $40,000 purse.  Tyler Gaffalione rode Cali Star, the 3-1 second betting choice, who won in 1:38.33 on a track listed as fast.

Owners Ben Walden and Larry Taylor recently transferred the 4-year-old Cali Star from Kentucky-based trainer Alice Cohn to Wolfson.

This summer and fall in Kentucky, Cali Star raced in five high-level optional claimers—finishing third in three of those races and out of the money in the other two.














GP West: Ten Races Today; Two Stakes on Saturday

Cali Star Wins GP West Feature in First Start for Wolfson

Cali Star (3-1),  in  her  first start for trainer Marty Wolfson, took the lead entering the second turn and pulled away to beat the 4-5 favorite Danessa Deluxe by five lengths in Wednesday's feature race at the Gulfstream Park West meet, Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West  meet at Calder under a lease agreement with that track.
 

The 4-year-old Cali Star is the latest in  a  group  of  allowance  and stakes level horses that some owners have sent to Wolfson from other trainers or that owners have bought in private sales with Wolfson's advice.
 

On Wednesday, Cali Star made her first start at Calder and won the one mile race in 138.33 on  a dirt track listed as fast. The time was solid, especially on a race day that followed early morning rains and when other Calder dirt track winning times were not particularly fast.

The race was  a $62,500 allowance/optional claimer with a  $40,000  purse.  Curlin's Princess finished third, followed by Little Tami in  an  eight-horse field. None of the  first four finishers were in for a tag. Wolfson  trains Curlin's Princess for her owner/breeder Happy Alter. Ben Walden Jr, and Larry Taylor own Cali Star.  Last month they transferred
her to Wolfson from trainer Alice Cohn.

Cali Star had raced eight times for Cohn this year with one win.  All of those races were stakes or high-level optional claimers at Fair Grounds in  New Orleans or at tracks in Kentucky.

Wednesday's win was the fifth in 17 career  starts for Cali  Star. She is the second horse that Walden this year has transferred from Cohn in Kentucky to Wolfson in Florida.

The other is Prayed For, a 4-year-old filly that races mostly on turf. For Wolfson,  Prayed For has run three times - including a win on Sept. 26 in the Panama City Stakes at one mile on turf at Gulfstream.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Little Dream Seeks to Stay Hot With Little Tami

Little Tami's speed figures are not among the best for the horses entered in today's ninth and feature race at the Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder Casino & Race Course.

But the 4-year-old filly will get some support from bettors who like to go with so-called hot barns. She is trained by Carlo Vaccarezza and owned by Little Dreams Racing of which he is founder and managing partner.

The race is  one mile on  dirt. It is a  $62500 allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Little Tami is not in for a tag.'

Going into today's races, Vaccarezza has ten wins and is tied for fourth place in  the trainers' standings.  Two of his wins were  over the past weekend,
Little Dreams has four wins, in 14 starts and  is tied for third in the owners' standings  It also has a second place finish and three third place finishes.

Little  Dreams allows investors to take a stake in a horse with as little as 1 percent of the acquisition  price.  Vaccarezza  has bought many Little Dreams horses for $50,000 or less.
Little Tami, a  daughter of Big Brown, was a $150,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales  Co.'s March 2013 sale.

Little Tami has won just two of 12 career starts, But she has a win and two third place finishes on Calder's track.  Jeffrey Sanchez has the mount.

Danessa Deluxe is the likely favorite. Her record includes  a third place in this year's Gulfstream Park Oaks (Grade 2) at 1 1/16 miles. Edgard Zayas will ride  for owner Gelfenstein Farm and trainer Jorge Navarro.

One key to the race could be whether any horses will attempt to stay with the speedy Curlin's Princess during the early stages . Luca  Panici will ride her for trainer Marty Wolfson and owner Miller Racing.

- Jim Freer

Wednesday at GP West: Distaff Allowance Tops Card



HorseracingFLA Staff Report

The Gufstream Park West meet will resume today with ten races and a first post of 12:35 p.m. ET

 It will be the 32nd day of the 40-day meet that Gulfstream Park is holding at Calder Casino & Race Course. As usual for GP West, five of today’s races are on turf and five are on dirt.

The featured ninth race is on dirt, at one mile. It is a $62,500 allowance/optional claimer with a $40,000 purse for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Scheduled post for that race is 4:35 p.m.

Danessa Deluxe and Oasis at Midnight, two graded stakes veterans, are likely favorites.

Some bettors using the hot-barn angle might focus on Little Tami. She is trained by Carlo Vaccarezza and owned by Little Dreams Racing of which he is founder and managing partner.

Vaccarezza has moved into a tie for fourth place in trainer wins with ten. Little Dreams is tied for fourth in the owners’ standings with four victories.

We will have a preview of today’s ninth race early this afternoon on our blog.  insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com.


Wednesday at GP West: Distaff Allowance Tops Card

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

GP West : Jockey Joe Bravo Okay After Spill

Fans who stood near the walking ring before Sunday’s 8th Gulfstream Park West race joined us in witnessing a vivid reminder of the dangers posed by thoroughbreds, particularly young and untested ones.

Fortunately jockey Joe Bravo, who was tossed to the ground by his mount Trickita, did not suffer serious injury.

Late Monday afternoon, a Gulfstream Park official said  that Bravo is fine and basically “had the wind knocked out of him.”


Joe Bravo attended to after being thrown from his mount on Trickita
Joe Bravo

Bravo is expected to ride his next  scheduled mount on Thursday at the GP West meet. Gulfstream is holding the meet at Calder under a lease agreement with that track.

But it was tense for several minutes on Sunday as Bravo, while moving and speaking, lay on his back getting medical attention. After being helped to his feet, the highly competitive Bravo was heard muttering and cursing as he walked without assistance back to the jockeys’ room.

And as frequently happens when a horse acts wild before a race, Trickita settled down enough to run impressively. With Edgar Prado subbing for Bravo, she finished third in the $50,000 maiden special weight race for two-year-old fillies at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Sweet Victory won the race gate-to-wire, bucking the weekend trend of speed not holding up in turf races.

Just as Bravo got on board, Trickita reared up, spun around and tossed him to  the grass just inside the dirt walking ring.  One of her kicks appeared to catch him in the mid-section. Fortunately, jockeys wear inflatable flak jackets.

As those inside the walking ring (including members  of owners’ families) scrambled away, Paddock officials corralled the kicking Trickita and took her back to the covered saddling area. Soon, the other nine horses were taken to that area.

Many of us who were on-site were surprised that Trickita was not scratched by order of the stewards.

Trickita provides a lesson on why it pays to be careful when near thoroughbreds. Thoroughbreds of racing age weigh 1,000 or more pounds. It is important to not stand behind them or walk closely behind them.

(Note: The photo on our home page, also adjacent, shows track veterinarian Dr. Patricia Marquis attending to Bravo while waiting for the track medic to arrive. 

Photo credit: Barry Unterbrink, HorseracingFLA.com’s business manager.






GP West : Jockey Joe Bravo Okay After Spill

Monday, November 16, 2015

This Week at the Florida Tracks: Nov. 16 to Nov. 22

HorseracingFLA Staff Report


The Gulfstream Park West meet will resume this Wednesday, with its regular Wednesday through Sunday schedule. First post time is 12:35 p.m. through the end of the meet on Nov 28.


Gulfstream Park is holding the GP West meet at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens under a lease agreement with that track.


GP West will have two stakes races on Saturday Nov. 21. The $100,000 Tropical Turf (Grade 3) will be 1 1/16 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and up, and the $100,000 My Charmer (Grade 3) will be 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.


Gulfstream Park on Dec. 5 will begin its four-month 2015-2016 championship meet.


During the GP West meet, Gulfstream in Hallandale Beach is open daily for simulcasting, including the GP West races.


Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar is in the midst of physical and operational preparations for its opening day on Nov. 28. Until then, it is open for simulcasting of races including GP West.CalderMediaBadge


Calder Casino

21001 N.W. 27th Ave.

Miami Gardens, FL 33056

(305) 206-6309
Calder Web site


For information on the racing at GP West (Calder), use the Gulfstream Park contact information listed below.


* Live racing — Wednesdays through Sundays, first post is 1:15 p.m.


Casino — Open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and SaturdaysGSP 1939 Cap


Gulfstream Park

901 S. Federal Highway

Hallandale Beach, Fla. 33009

Phones — (954) 454-7000
Gulfstream Park Website


* Simulcast wagering — seven days a week with more than 30 thoroughbred and harness tracks; open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.


* Casino — the two casino rooms are open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays


* Poker — 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 24 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.


Tampa Bay DownsTBDowns_Logo

11225 Race Track Road, Tampa, Florida 33626

Main Phone (813) 855-4401

Toll Free (In Florida) (866)-TBDOWNS (823-6967)


Tampa Bay  Downs Web site


Tampa BayDowns will resume live racing on Nov.28th.


Prior to then, it is open seven days a week for afternoon and evening simulcasts of thoroughbred races from more than 20 tracks. A schedule may be obtained by calling the numbers listed above.


*The Silks Poker Room hours of operation: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.


The Downs Golf Practice Facility hours of operation:


Pro Shop: 8:30 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. daily (Last bucket sold at 7:45 p.m.)


Range: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily


Short Game Area: 8:30 a.m. – dusk daily (lights out at 9:45 p.m.



This Week at the Florida Tracks: Nov. 16 to Nov. 22

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Doctor J Dub wins Sunday's 10th at GP West

Doctor J Dub won Sunday's tenth and final race at the Gulfstream Park West meet, making him the first horse with three wins in the meet through 31 days.

Carlo Vaccarezza trains Doctor J Dub and now has ten wins at the meet. Tyler Gaffalione rode Doctor J Dub (9-2).

There were two longshot winners - Divine Deacon (25-1) in  the sixth race, and Picadilly Roadster (17-1) in the ninth race.

That led to a payoff of $36,873.80 for a 50 cent bet on the Pick  5.

There were no tickets with all six winners on the 20 cent only Rainbow 6, so each ticket with five winners received $1,725.80. There  will be a  carryover of $22,143.80 when  racing  resumes on Wednesday, with a 12:35 p.m. first post.

Gulfstream Park is holding  the GP West  meet at Calder under a lease agreement with that track.
-Jim Freer

GPW -- no live tix in rainbow 6

The tenth is coming up at GP West.-- with no live tix  on the Rainbow 6.  Thus tickets with 5 of 6 will win and there will be a carryover on Wednesday

We have been outside t hanging trackside.

Here is what's happening


Ninth -- Picadilly Roadster won at 17-1

Eighth -- A ruckus before the race.  As  the riders started to mont, the 1 horse Trickita tossed jockey Joe Bravo and kicked him in the chest area.

Medics and vet Patti Marquis.attended Bravo for about five minutes.

To the surprise of many, Trickita was not scratched.  Edgar Prdio replaced Bravo onTrickita in the MSW race for maiden fillies at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Trickita rallied to finish third behind the winner  Sweet victory and runner up fired Up Sensaton. 

Seventh -- A double for trainer George Handy  as Storm  warnings rallied from off the pace to edge the favorite Capital City.

Longshot wins first leg of GP west pick 5

Bombs Away in the sixth at GP West, the start of pick 5. Divine Deacon (25-1)held on to beat Major anthem by a head in the one mile turf race for $12,500 claimers.

Today's betting on the pick 5 is $82,868  added o the carryover of $20,926
-- Jim Freer

Trainer George Handy, 92, Wiins at GP West

Trainer George Handy is still going strong at age 92. he gained is first win of the GP West meet n the fifth with Kimchi's  Strike.

Kimchi's Strike rallied from off edged  Think He's Gone in  the six furlong dirt race or 2-YO maiden  claimers
-- Jim Freer 

PP west; overcast, fast and Firm

heading into the fifth at GP West it is overcast ut with no rain yet. conditions are still fast and firm.  Rainbow 6 starts with this race.

Sunday at GP West: Five on Turf , Large Carryovers

By Jim Freer

The Gulfstream Park West meet will have ten races today with first post of 12:35 p.m.


Gulfstream Park is holding the race meet at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens, under a lease agreement with that track.


There are no stakes races on today’s card. But there will be the attractions of large fields and three carryovers. There are 116 entrants, including Also Eligibles and Main Track Only.


We will have coverage this afternoon on our blog. Surf over to:


insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com


Later today and Monday, this Web site will have more news on the races and other developments at GP West.


Turf Racing

There is a 40 percent chance of rain this afternoon in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. But barring downpours, it is likely that the Gulfstream track superintendence team (which is in charge for GP West) will be able to keep all of the turf races on that surface.


On Saturday there was rain almost the entire race day at Calder–mostly light but at some times heavy.


All five turf races stayed on that surface, and conditions were fast and firm throughout the day.


In fact, Saturday’s rain should help the turf course which has been dry and now has dirt visible over much of its inside.


Today is the 31st day of the 40-day GP West meet. Our records show that only two races have been taken off turf during the meet, Both were on opening day Oct. 7.


It should be noted that in several recent years there were late season dry spells and that the Calder turf course, then managed by Calder, was kicking up significantly more dirt than has been seen in recent days.


Here are some short-term trends regarding the GP West turf racing:


Through most of the meet, speed has generally not been holding up on the turf course.


For most of this week, GP West each day had several five-furlong turf races with several won by front-runners.


On Saturday, all five turf races were 7 ½ furlongs or longer. In each race the winner was in fourth place or farther back after a half mile. Among those five races, only three horses that finished in the top three were third or better after a half mile.


Four of today’s five turf races are 7 ½ furlongs or longer.


Today’s Carryovers


The 50-cent minimum late pick 5 will have a carryover of $20,926.26 after no one had five winners Saturday. Four of five returned $178.85.


There will also be a carryover in the first race of the rolling 50-cent Super Hi 5 of $4,674.71.


Meanwhile, the 20-cent only Rainbow 6 continues to grow with a carryover going into Sunday’s card of $15,117.33.



Sunday at GP West: Five on Turf , Large Carryovers

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Heavy Rains Move in at Gulfstream Park West

Rain is falling heavier as the eighth race approaches.  It is six furlongs on dirt,a $6,250 claimer for older fillies and  mares.

The ninth race is  still on the turf.  It is a $50,000 MSW for 2-Yo males.

In the seventh at one mile on turf, Black Martino (5-1) came off the AE list to edge the favorite Metaphorically. lack  Martino is owned by Honors Stable, which also owns the 2014 Fountain of Youth winner Wildcat Red.

Longshot Takes First Leg of GP West pick 5

First time starter Capture the Sun captures the sixth at 20-1.  With large fields coming up, that could set up a big pick  5 payoff.

We'll be back shortly to look at several of those races

GP West: light rain, still fast and Firm

We are through five at GP West with light rain fallng--as it has for several races

For now it is fast and firm.
FYI-- our records show two races were taken off turf opening day and none since

Saturday at GP West: Ten Races, Large Fields

 


HorseRacingFLA Staff Report

The Gulfstream Park West meet will have ten races today with first post of 12:35 p.m.


The race meet is being held at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens,


There are no stakes races on today’s card, but bettors will find large fields. Five of the races are on turf. There are 117 entrants, including also Eligibles and Main Track Only.


Please check our blog this afternoon for race coverage. Surf over to:
insidefloridahorseracing.blogspot.com


Later today, we will recap the day’s GP West racing on this Web site.



Saturday at GP West: Ten Races, Large Fields

East Hall's Career Ended by Injury

By Jim Freer

The four-time stakes winner East Hall suffered a fractured sesamoid during the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview on Saturday Nov. 7 at Calder, and has been retired from racing.


East Hall, a 4-year-old gelding, finished fifth in his final race. He will spend about 60 days in Florida while resting and recuperating from surgery and then be sent to a thoroughbred retirement center, his co-owner Jack Hendricks told the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.


A sesamoid bone is at the back of a joint in a horse’s lower leg and helps to keep the function of the tendons and ligaments that run between them.


The news of East Hall’s injury was first reported in the FTBOA’s on-line Wire to Wire publication in an article written by FTBOA managing editor Mike Mullaney.


“We all feel terrible,” Bill Kaplan, the trainer of East Hall, told HorseRacingFLA on Friday.


“He is gone (from racing) but not gone from life,” Kaplan said. “They’ll make sure that he has a good home. He was a great horse, and he always gave his best.”


East Hall won six of his 28 starts and earned $870,620

for Hendricks and co-owner Roger Justice, with Kaplan as trainer in all of them. East Hall also had four second place finishes and four third place finishes, while racing primarily in stakes.


Kaplan said that East Hall was a standout for reasons that included his endurance, intelligence and ability to work with a rider to adjust to the traffic in a race.


The photo on the home page shows East Hall winning the 2014 Millions Classic Preview, a $100,000 race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt for Florida-breds 3-years-old and up. Last year and this year, the race was part of the Gulfstream Park West meet, which Gufstream Park is holding at Calder under a lease agreement with that track.


In 2014, East Hall won the $200,000 Ohio Derby at ThistleDown and the $500,000 Indiana Derby (Grade 2( at Indiana Grand Race Course.


This past Sept. 12, he won the Sensitive Prince Stakes at Gulfstream.


East Hall is a son of Graeme Hall out of the Sultry Song mare East Long Lake. Hendricks and Justice bought him for $55,000 at an Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. sale in April 2013.



East Hall's Career Ended by Injury

Friday, November 13, 2015

Rich Daddy and Comfort Win GP West Co-Features

Rich Daddy and  Comfort each rallied from off  the pace for a win Friday in  the co-features at the Gulfstream Park West meet.,  being held at Calder  under sponsorship  of Gulfstream Park.

Rich Daddy,  the 9-5 favorite, beat Bluegrass Singer by 6 1/2 lengths in the fifth race, at one mile and 70 yards on  dirt for 3-year-olds and up.  The race was a  $62,500  optional claimer with a $40,000 purse.

Emisael  Jaramillo rode Rich Daddy, who won  in 1:42.61 on  rhe track listed  as fast.  Jose Garoffalo trains Rich Daddy.

Comfort,  making his first start  in six months, won the day's ninth race, with a $39,000 purse for trainer Todd Pletcher.  It was six furlongs on dirt for 3-year-olds.

Comfort beat Shaft of Light by 4 1.4 lengths.  Eddie Castro rode Comfort, who won in 1:11.08.
--Jim Freer

Jockey Jaramillo Stays Hot at GP West

Today has  stared out  as  another  day with Venezuelan flavor  at GP West, courtesy  of  jockey Emisael  Jaramillo and trainer Juan Arias

The red-hot Jaramillo rode  17-1 shot Boyfriend's Back  to a  victory in the  first race.  It was the 17th win  of the meet for Jaramillo, who is fourth  in the standings.  He was a leading rider in Venezuela before  coming to South Florida several months ago.  

In the second race, the Arias-trained Storm Sense wired the field  at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.  The Venezuelan-born  Arias is a long-time South Florida fixture who is known  for having a horse shoot to the lead and play catch-me-if-you-can.

We'll have more about Arias and Storm Sense later today.
Jim  Freer

Friday at GP West: Bluegrass Singer, Rich Daddy Head Field in Feature

HorseRacingFLA Staff Report

The speedy Bluegrass Singer and the late-running Rich Daddy will meet for the first time this afternoon in the fifth and feature race at the Gulfstream Park West meet, being held at Calder Casino & Race Course.


It is a $62,500 optional claimer, with a $40,000 purse, at one mile and 70 yards on dirt for 3-year-olds and up. Among the six entrants, only Percussion and I’m Steppin’ It Up are in for a tag. Scheduled post is 2:35 p.m.

There will be ten races today at GP West with first post at 12:35 p.m.

Our recent blog posts can be found on the right column of our website, www.horseracingFLA.com

Later today, we will recap the day’s GP West racing on this Web site.

Bluegrass Singer, a 3-year-old gelding, is the only horse in the feature with a U.S. stakes win.

This year he won the Mucho Macho Man at one mile at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3 and the Parx Derby at one mile and 70 yards at Parx Racing near Philadelphia on May 2.

Since then, Bluegrass Singer has finished no better than third in six starts–all in stakes with three on dirt and three on turf.


Trainer Marcus Vitali
Trainer Marcus Vitali

Bluegrass Singer is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm and trained by Marcus Vatali, who has given the mount to his go-to-jockey Matt Rispoli.

Bluegrass Singer will get class relief. But he will face two other horses with early speed–Percussion and I’m Steppin’ It Up.

Percussion is in post five, just outside of Bluegrass Singer. I’m Steppin’ It Up is in post two.

Percussion is trained by Jorge Navarro, who leads GP West trainers in wins with 13 in just 26 starts. Orlando Bocachica has the mount.

Percussion had two wins at Monmouth Park this summer, but is taking a step up in class.

I’m Steppin’ It Up also is rising in class. His summer record included a win at Belmont Park and a second place finish at Parx. Trainer Jane Cibelli has given the mount to Tyler Gaffalione

The consistent Rich Daddy has raced 15 times this year, all at Gulfstream. He has three wins, one second place finish and eight third place finishes.

Jose Garoffalo trains the 4-year-old gelding. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount.

Storming Inti is making his first dirt start of the year. During 2015, he has run in three turf stakes without hitting the board. Edgard Zayas, who leads GP West jockeys in wins with 31, will ride for trainer Jena Antonucci.

My Running Mate will make his first U.S. start, after racing 16 times with eight wins in Venezuela. Several of those victories were in stakes races. Luis Castillo will ride My Running Mate for trainer Hernan Parra.

It could shape up as a race where Rich Daddy has the pace advantage and the question could be whether Bluegrass Singer’s back class will ebable him to hold on for second place.


Friday at GP West: Bluegrass Singer, Rich Daddy Head Field in Feature