Gulfstream Park

Since the 1940s Gulfstream Park has been a favorite winter destination for horsemen and racing fans. Gulfstream Park opened in February 1939 but went bankrupt and closed after four days of racing. In 1944, James Donn Sr., a creditor of the track, reopened Gulfstream.

In 1952, the Florida Derby (Grade 1) debuted, and since that time, this race has become an important steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby.

In 1999, Frank Stronach-led Magna Entertainment Corp. purchase Gulfstream Park for $95 million, and upon getting approval from Broward County voters for slot machines in 2005, Magna opened its slot casino in 2006. The track is now owned by Frank Stronach's The Stronach Group.

Today Gulfstream is an entertainment destination, with a casino and racetrack as well as The Village, an open air shopping mall with stores, restaurants, night clubs and even a bowling alley. A 715-ton statue of a pegasus stomping a dragon is also on the grounds.

In 2017 Gulfstream Park hosted the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational,  the brainchild of Frank Stronach and a unique format not seen in racing before. The race's world-record $12 million purse is funded by the purchase of 12 starting gate slots for $1 million each. The gate owners run a horse they own or arrange for another horse to run in their gate, and the gate owners split all profits from the day including revenues from tickets, food and beverage and betting. The first Pegasus featured Arrogate defeating a field that included California Chrome and brought record betting handle of more than $40 million.