Gulfstream Park turf course undergoing renovations

MIAMI – After being used heavily for the past 10 months with as many as five or six races carded daily on the grass, the Gulfstream Park turf course is undergoing extensive renovations that began immediately after the spring-summer session ended last Sunday.

Large sections of the course have already been ripped out, with the much-needed project scheduled to be completed by the time the 2018-19 championship meet opens Dec. 1.

“Despite taking a pretty good pounding and being used so frequently this past season, we felt the turf course held up really well, all things considered,” Gulfstream Park general manager Bill Badgett said. “We are currently in the process of tearing out and redoing the outside 96 feet, with the work to be completely done and the course ready for business when we reopen for the championship meet.”

Having the turf course in pristine condition will be of even greater importance this winter with the addition of the Grade 1, $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on the schedule, with expectations of attracting many of the world’s best grass horses to Gulfstream Park for the inaugural running on Jan. 26.