Gulf considers fall meet

Gulfstream Park may spark a major shift in the Florida racing calendar by amending its request for 2006 dates and applying for a brief fall meet in addition to its traditional dates.

Gulfstream applied for its normal winter dates, Jan. 3 to April 24, when applications were filed Thursday with the state's Division of Parimutuel Wagering, but all tracks have until March 31 to make changes.

Scott Savin, Gulfstream's president, said Friday that a fall meet of undetermined duration is "something we've talked about," adding such a meet has garnered interest from horsemen.

Calder president Ken Dunn, whose track currently operates from April through December, said discussion of any such change is premature because the scheduling of future racing dates is highly dependent on what occurs in March in regard to legalized slots. That's when a local referendum on whether to allow slots at tracks will be held.