Racing towards a bright future was the theme of the day when Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino recently hosted an Aventura Marketing Council and Hallandale Beach Chamber breakfast meeting featuring a “Tallahassee Update” presented by Florida State Representatives Joe Gibbons and Jeanette Nuñez. During the winning business- building event, Gulfstream Park President Tim Ritvo also shared exciting expansion plans designed to continue maximizing the guest experience while providing world-class thoroughbred racing and gaming entertainment.
AMC Chair Cliff Schulman of Weiss, Serota, Helfman and Hallandale Beach Chairman Mike Long of the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach, welcomed hundreds of business and community leaders gathered at Gulfstream Park along with Ritvo, who also serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Stronach Group, Gulfstream’s parent company.
“Gulfstream Park and The Stronach Group are committed to finding ways to upgrade our state-of-the-art facility and making customer service a priority,” Ritvo said. “We want to offer the community a complete family entertainment package that will be ‘destination Gulfstream.’”
Beyond all the excitement of championship horses, world-class jockeys and a winter racing schedule featuring the $1,000,000 Florida Derby, Sunshine Millions Series and $500,000 Donn Handicap, Gulfstream is racing toward an even brighter future with major expansion plans. Coming attractions include a condominium, lavish hotel accommodations, an enlarged grandstand, spectacular new casino, additional parking and a monumental 150- foot tall bronze Pegasus statue gracing an elaborate theater complex. Additional stores, restaurants and entertainment activities are also on the horizon for the Village at Gulfstream Park.
Racing ahead to the “Tallahassee Update,” almost 200 businesspeople in the audience learned Rep. Gibbons is the Democratic Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee, Democratic Ranking Member of the Health Innovation Subcommittee, and serves on several other committees including Business & Professional Regulation Subcommittee, Economic Affairs Committee, Health & Human Services Committee, Joint Legislative Budget Commission and the Select Committee on Gaming. Rep. Nuñez is Chair of the Higher Education & Workforce Subcommittee, Vice Chair of the Rulemaking Oversight & Repeal Subcommittee and also serves on committees addressing transportation, highway safety and economic development goals.
Reporting good news, they explained the Florida Legislature passed a “fiscally responsible” budget promoting financially sound investments in the state’s future without raising taxes on Florida’s families or businesses.
The budget prioritizes education and infrastructure by increasing funding in critical economic areas while providing tax breaks for small businesses. Highlights for the community include: over $1 billion in additional funding for public schools; $300 million for state universities; pay increases for teachers, state workers and law enforcement officers; additional funding for senior centers and programs; manufacturing tax breaks supporting economic growth and job creation; and $2.8 billion set aside in reserves to help keep Florida in good fiscal standing.
The Legislature also implemented the new $880 million Everglades Restoration Plan; agreed on a Citizens Property Insurance measure aiming to limit rate and assessment increases; and expanded early voting hours, days and locations. Bills were passed banning texting and driving; authorizing judges to electronically sign arrest warrants to speed up state and local law enforcement responses; and the Legislature also supported the Cancer Treatment Fairness Act, which will help cancer patients afford chemotherapies and facilitate better outcomes.
Before the meeting reached the finish line, everyone was encouraged to obtain more legislation information by contacting Rep. Gibbons (phone: 954-893-5006) and Rep. Nuñez (phone: 305-227-7630) – and invited to come back with colleagues, friends and family members always welcome to experience the Gulfstream Park winning streak!
