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After a 5 1/2-month hiatus, turf racing will return to Gulfstream Park on Thursday, Dec. 1. The turf training course at Palm Meadows reopened last month. The two courses were shut down over the summer and fall months to allow 1S/T Racing’s new Director of Turf Surfaces, Leif Dickinson, to get to work renovating the surfaces.
There are three turf races carded for the re-opening of the Gulfstream turf on Thursday, Dec. 1, and three more on Friday, Dec. 2. FTHA President Joe Orseno has Ha' Penny entered in Friday's feature, a $72,000 allowance test going 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass.
"It appears that Gulfstream has hired the right man for this project," Orseno said. "I walk the turf course regularly and the results are amazing. I hope the horsemen are pleased with the efforts that management has taken to try and give them the best possible turf course to run on."
The Palm Meadows grass reopened Nov. 3, with training hours Thursday through Sunday from 10-10:30 a.m.
Trainer and FTHA Board member Patrick Biancone gave the renovated surface a solid thumbs up. "It looks good and the riders tell me it feels good, too," he said.
Trainer Nicholas Palmer also provided a positive review. "Honestly, I think Leif and his team did a phenomenal job," he said. "I was so excited to finally be able to get on it because I believe I have a barn full of grass horses and it did not disappoint. I think everyone did a fine job, and the break certainly helped!"
Gulfstream Park and Andy Belfiore Photos
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