The battle over racing dates in southeast Florida became more intense Feb. 22 when Calder Casino & Race Course informed the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering that it plans to have racing every Saturday and Sunday from July 1 through June 30, 2014.
Gulfstream Park started the dispute in late December when, in a filing with the Florida DPMW, it said it plans to expand beyond its current December through early April schedule and also have racing on Saturdays and Sundays on the other 35 weeks.
Calder’s new filing sets the stage for possible year-round head-to-head racing clash on weekends.
The original filing from Calder showed it keeping its current April through November schedule.
Florida horse tracks pick their own race dates with approval that is generally automatic from the Florida DPMW.
The two Miami-area tracks, just eight miles apart, have until 5 p.m. on Feb. 28 to send the Florida DPMW their final dates schedules for July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.
If neither changes its current plan, they would have head-to-head weekend racing, even though officials of both tracks have said they would like to avoid it.
Calder Casino and Race Course
Coady Photography