While Thoroughbreds from across the country were preparing to stream into Gulfstream Park for the 2012-2013 race meet beginning Saturday, Dec. 1, Gulfstream remained one of the most active and diverse entertainment centers in the southeast United States.
On the weekend of Oct. 13-14, Gulfstream hosted the second annual LIVELONG Benefitting LIVESTRONG, a two-day event of running, cycling and family fun. More than 2,500 participants took part in the weekend festival, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Dreams Unit of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and the remaining proceeds benefiting the global outreach of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
On Thursday, Oct. 18, Gulfstream will play host to the 20th annual Hollywood Welcomes the Stars, benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County. Several local and national celebrities and athletes are expected to attend. Just 24 hours later, on Friday, Oct. 19, Gulfstream will be the site of the 27th annual Fort Lauderdale Film Festival Opening Night VIP Celebration, honoring actors James Caan, Dabney Coleman, Garret Dillahunt and actress Bailee Madison.
If guests are looking to get into the spirit of Halloween, all they have to do is check out Gulfstream at night to catch ghosts, ghouls and zombies at the Festival of Souls. The Halloween event features an 8,000 square-foot haunted house known as Demon Mansion and a Zombie Safari. Festival of Souls runs through Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Meanwhile, Gulfstream continues to prepare for its most exciting season of Thoroughbred racing. The stable areas at Gulfstream will open Oct. 18. Along with the March 30 Florida Derby and Dec. 1 Opening Day featuring the $850,000 Claiming Crown, Gulfstream will become the first racetrack to host the Eclipse Awards, Thoroughbred racing’s equivalent to the Academy Awards.
The Eclipse will be held the evening of Jan. 19, the same day as the $1.3 million Florida Sunshine Millions.
