Longtime starter Jeff Powell retires

It was strange not to see Jeff Powell on the starter’s stand when the spring-summer session opened Wednesday at Gulfstream Park. Powell, the starter both locally and at Gulfstream Park West since 2007, retired at the end of the championship meeting Sunday to return to his home in Montana. He’s been replaced by Dave Reinshuttle, a longtime member of Powell’s south Florida gate crew.

Powell was honored by a huge throng of his peers in the winner’s circle Sunday.

“I’m overwhelmed. I didn’t realize how much I’m appreciated around here,” said an emotional Powell as he headed to the gate to start the final race of his career Sunday. “For a guy like me from a tiny little town in Montana, I’d never believe I’d end up here. To see the horses I’ve seen and meet the people I’ve met, it’s been unbelievable.”

Powell, who began his career on the racetrack with his family around the fairs in Washington and Oregon, first began working on the gate at Gulfstream in 1984. And he was around some of the best horses in the history of the sport during his tenure.

“I handled Barbaro and Skip Away in the gate when they were down here,” said Powell, 54, “and just about every horse Jerry Bailey rode in the ‘90s at Gulfstream. Some pretty nice horses. And I get to finish up down here with one like Arrogate.”

Powell said it’s going to be difficult to leave his job and all the good friends he has made here over the years.

“It’s hard to leave, but my parents are getting some age on them, so it’s time to go back home and be with them,” said Powell. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. There are still some fair meets around, although not like there used to be. Most are closed now, but I can’t just sit around either. I’ll find something.”