With Hurricane Dorian approaching, Gulfstream cancels Sunday and Monday

Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., has canceled its Sunday and Monday live racing cards due to the approach of Hurricane Dorian, the track announced on Friday.

In addition to cancelling the two cards, held on a three-day weekend that includes Labor Day on Monday, the entire Gulfstream facility will be closed as of midnight on Saturday, the track said, including its casino and onsite simulcast-wagering operations. The closure will remain in effect “until further notice,” Gulfstream said.

As of Friday afternoon, Hurricane Dorian was not forecasted to make landfall in Florida until Tuesday morning, and its exact path toward Florida’s coast ranges from Miami to Jacksonville. However, hurricanes frequently push adverse weather ahead of them prior to landfall. According to forecasters, the storm is strengthening as it makes its way across the northern Caribbean.

Track officials have told horsemen that they may stable at either Gulfstream or Palm Meadows, a training center owned by the track, depending on “whichever facility they feel more comfortable depending on the track of Dorian.” Palm Meadows is located approximately 50 miles north of Gulfstream, and it is slightly farther inland from Gulfstream. There are currently 1,450 horses stabled at Gulfstream, according to David Joseph, a spokesman for track, among 2,700 total stalls. There are currently 600 horses stabled at Palm Meadows, which has stalls for 1,440 horses.

“The health and welfare of our employees, our equine athletes, and our customers are always our priorities,” said Bill Badget, the track’s vice president, in a release. “We are closely monitoring the storm and are in constant contact with our horsemen in Florida.”

The release from the track noted that the facility may be used “if needed” as a staging area for local utility companies and emergency personnel.