Calder 'Refugees' Settle in at Gulfstream Park

Edited press release
Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., has taken in 50 racehorses that had to leave nearby Calder Race Course because of barn-area damage from Hurricane Wilma.

Calder suffered extensive damage from the storm, which blew in and out the morning of Oct. 24. Many barns lost their roofs. Horses will continue to be shuttled to Gulfstream while the repairs are being made at Calder, which announced it would be able to reopen Oct. 29, Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships day, for simulcasts only.

"We are privileged, and indeed fortunate, to be able to offer assistance to our fellow horsemen," Gulfstream president and general manager Scott Savin said. "If the roles were reversed, we know they would do the same for us."

First off the vans was the popular Thrillin Discovery, who is listed as a gray or roan but who has turned white over his 10 years. His trainer, Ross Wolfendale, stayed with him and the rest of his string during the storm.

"My barn is gone--40% of my roof is gone," Wolfendale said. "I got to the track at 3:30 Monday morning and let my help go at 6. I sat in the tack room through the storm. It was hell; there's no other word for it."

Gulfstream sustained no structural damage beyond the loss of a few shingles on some of the older barns. Gulfstream is in the midst of a total rebuild of its grandstand/clubhouse. Live racing at the track is scheduled to resume the first week of January.