Gulfstream championship meet ends with slight dips in handle, attendance

Gulfstream Park's 2013-14 championship meet, which began Dec. 1, ended last Sunday with total live handle ontrack at almost $50 million and all-sources handle at $691 million. Both figures were down slightly from the previous season, although, as Gulfstream Park president Tim Ritvo noted, the track ran 55 fewer races in December than at the previous meet and 35 fewer turf races overall during the meet than in 2012-13. Gulfstream also raced in direct competition with neighboring Calder for the first time.

Javier Castellano captured the riding title for the third consecutive year with a record 132 victories. Pletcher won an unprecedented 11th straight training crown while saddling eight graded stakes winners.

Classic Point tops field for Hollywood Beach

Saturday’s feature is the $75,000 Hollywood Beach Stakes at six furlongs for fillies and mares. The field includes the Grade 2-placed Classic Point, who blew out a half-mile from the quarter pole in 49.36 seconds before galloping out five-eighths in 1:03.04 here Wednesday.

Classic Point drew the rail and will be joined, in post-position order, by Pixie Devil, Salamera, Lil Red Cozette, Joanie’s Image, Jane of All Trades, Table Three Ten, Vitameta, R Free Roll, and Vuitton.

Carryover hits $4.8 million

There will be a carryover of more than $4.8 million in the Rainbow 6 when racing resumes Friday. There were three horses alive in Sunday’s finale for the entire jackpot of more than $5 million, but the Rainbow 6 survived for the 60th straight day after War Classic, who was covered several times, captured the nightcap. To win the Rainbow 6, a player must have the lone ticket with the winning combination.