Gulfstream: Fast and Firm for Start of Thursday

Post  time of 1:45  p.m is approaching for the second race on Thursday's nine-race card at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale  Beach, Fla.

The  prime betting attraction is the Rainbow 6, with a carryover that has grown to  $596,772.  The  20-cent only bet is on races  four  to nine with the sequence scheduled to start at 2:46  p.m.

The day is starting off with the dirt listed as Fast and Turf listed as Firm.

But the Weather  Channel forecast is for the current 15 percent chance of thunderstorms to rise to 65 percent around 4 p.m. and stay there for several hours.

That sounds familiar to bettors, horsemen and Gulfstream management.

Due to rain or lingering wet conditions, Gulfstream moved at  least  one scheduled-for-turf race to the dirt on seven of the previous eight race  days this month.

Today's  first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth races are scheduled for turf.

Bettors  should keep this scenario in mind: If the Rainbow 6 or Late Pick 5 begins with a race scheduled for turf and it is later switched to dirt, ALL horses that remain in the race become winners for the purpose of the bet.  That often leads to several thousand Rainbow 6 tickets with (for betting purposes) six winners, but with a payoff  of less than $100.