Gulfstream cuts Florida Derby purse to $750,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park announced Saturday it will cut the purses for five stakes races on next Saturday’s card, including the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which will be reduced from $1 million to $750,000. Other cuts will be made for the Grade 2 Pan American and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, both reduced from $250,000 to $200,000, as well as the Sanibel Island and Cutler Bay stakes, both down from $125,000 to $100,000.

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Management cited the loss of casino revenues to the purse fund and the lack of ontrack handle as the reasons for the cuts. The Gulfstream Park casino shut down operations earlier this week while racing has been conducted behind closed doors for the past two weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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The news comes on the heels of a similar purse reduction announced earlier this week by Oaklawn Park for its marquee race, the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.