Calder, Gulfstream Fight Continues

One sure bet in southeast Florida is that there probably will not be a fast and pleasant settlement of the dispute between Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course over December racing dates.
 
During the Jan. 22-23 weekend, officials of the two tracks didn’t even seem in agreement about what has been discussed beyond initial phone calls made by officials of Gulfstream’s parent, MI Developments (MID), to Calder’s parent, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI).
 
Since 2002, Calder has been the only Miami-area Thoroughbred track to race in December. That is the month when many trainers, jockeys, horses, part-year residents, and tourists begin arriving from northern states.

But in its initial date filing with the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, Gulfstream Dec. 31 said it plans to hold races during the entire month of December 2011.