Gulfstream Park Expands Summer Schedule with Monday Racing, Innovative New Bets
Horseplayers will have another opportunity to cash tickets this summer as Gulfstream Park broadens its Royal Palm Meet schedule, adding live Monday racing through the end of August while rolling out several new low-takeout wagering options designed to appeal to both seasoned handicappers and casual fans.
Beginning this weekend, Gulfstream will conduct live programs every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday through Aug. 31, with the first Monday card slated for July 13. First post throughout the summer remains 12:20 p.m.
Track officials are making the inaugural Monday program a marquee event. In addition to a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6—expected to generate a six-figure pool—the afternoon will feature food and beverage specials, promotional giveaways, and a $500 drawing held before the day’s final race.
The July 13 program will also introduce three new wagers, each carrying a bettor-friendly 15 percent takeout.
Among the additions is a $3 Late Pick 3 covering the final three races on the card, along with a $5 Late Daily Double linking the last two races. Gulfstream is also debuting a $1 Place Pick 8, requiring players to identify either the winner or runner-up in each of the final eight races. Should no ticket correctly complete the sequence, the entire net pool will carry over to the next offering.
A fourth wager, the Summer Sweep Pick 5, is scheduled to make its debut on Monday, July 20. Offered exclusively on Mondays, the wager is designed specifically for retail customers and will combine Gulfstream races with events from a rotating group of partner tracks that includes Woodbine, Fort Erie, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Parx, and Emerald Downs. Like the Place Pick 8, the Summer Sweep Pick 5 will feature a 100 percent carryover of the net pool if no ticket successfully selects all five winners.
Opening Monday’s new schedule is a nine-race card, with four contests scheduled for the turf, weather permitting.
The featured event is Race 4, an allowance for fillies and mares three years old and upward at one mile on the grass. A compact but competitive field of seven has been assembled, highlighted by stakes-placed sophomore fillies Bayou Brigid and Spicy Princess.
Also entered is the veteran mare Calathea, who brings consistent form into the race despite seeing her three-race winning streak come to an end with a third-place finish over the main track on June 7. All three victories during that streak came over Gulfstream’s Tapeta surface, making her an intriguing contender as she returns to grass competition.
