Florida Derby April 1
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park will have a new, state-of-the-art grandstand for its 2006 racing season, which opens on Jan. 3, but virtually the same stakes schedule as in 2005.
The 2006 stakes schedule consists of 46 races worth just over $8 million in purses. As usual, the $1 million Florida Derby is the cornerstone of the program, and for the second straight year it will be decided on the first Saturday in April, which falls on April 1.
Like last year, the 2006 stakes schedule is built around four "Spectacular Saturday" cards, which feature several graded stakes races on the same afternoon, along with the fourth annual Sunshine Millions Day, strictly for California-breds and Florida-breds. The Spectacular Saturdays in 2006 are Jan 7, Feb. 4, March 4, and Florida Derby Day.
The Sunshine Millions will be held Jan. 28.
"The Gulfstream stakes schedule offers outstanding opportunities in every division," said Gulfstream president and general manager Scott Savin. "And the Spectacular Saturday concept guarantees that we'll have several tremendous event days during the meet."
Construction on the new grandstand began during the 2005 meeting. Track officials have said they are on a tight schedule but that virtually all the work on the building is expected to be completed by opening day.
2006 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.,Jan. 7 | Aventura Stakes | 3YO 1 mile$125,000 | ||
| Sat.,Jan. 7 | Mr. Prospector HANDICAP (G3) | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Jan 7 | Hal's Hope Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Jan. 8 | Ft. Lauderdale Stakes | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 75,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 14 | Marshua's River Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 75,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 21 | First Lady Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Jan 28 | Sunshine Millions Distaff | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 500,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 28 | Sunshine Millions Turf | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 500,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 28 | Sunshine Millions Sprint | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 300,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 28 | Sunshine Millions Oaks | 3YO F | furlongs | 250,000 |
| Sun.,Jan. 29 | Macdiarmida Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 3/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 4 | Donn Handicap (G1) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 500,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 4 | Hutcheson Stakes (G2) | 3YO | 7 1/2 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 4 | Davona Dale Stakes (G2) | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 4 | Holy Bull Stakes (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 4 | Old Hat Stakes (G3) | 3YO F | 6 1/2 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 4 | Suwannee River Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Feb. 5 | Deputy Minister Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 11 | Appleton Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Feb. 12 | Hallandale Beach Stakes | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Hurricane Bertie Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 1/2 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 18 | Sabin Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Feb. 19 | Gaily Gaily Stakes | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 25 | Gulfstream Park B.C. (G1) | 3YO & Up | 1 7/16 miles (T) | 250,000 |
| Sat.,March 4 | Fountain Of Youth Stakes (G2) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 300,000 |
| Sat.,March 4 | Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) | 3YO & Up | 1 3/16 miles | 300,000 |
| Sat.,March 4 | Richter Scale B.C. Sprint (G2) | 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 200,000 |
| Sat.,March 4 | Swale Stakes (G2) | 3YO | 7 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat.,March 4 | Very One Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 7/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,March 4 | Honey Fox Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sun.,March 5 | Forward Gal Stakes (G2) | 3YO F | 7 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sun.,March 5 | Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles | 150,000 |
| Sat.,March 11 | Canadian Turf Handicap | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sun.,March 12 | Palm Beach Stakes (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,March 18 | Shirley Jones B.c. Handicap (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 200,000 |
| Sun.,March 19 | Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,March 25 | Rampart Handicap (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Sat.,April 1 | Florida Derby (G1) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 1,000,000 |
| Sat.,April 1 | Orchid Handicap (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/2 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sat.,April 1 | Skip Away Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,April 1 | Pan American (G2) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/2 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sat.,April 1 | Artax Handicap3 | YO & Up | 7 1/2 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,April 1 | Lure Stakes | 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 75,000 |
| Sat.,April 1 | Spectacular Bid Stakes | 3YO | 6 1/2 furlongs | 75,000 |
| Sat.,April 8 | Bob Slater Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,April 15 | Yankee Affair Stakes | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |