Gulfstream Marketing Director Fired; Stakes Purses Cut

David Rovine, Gulfstream Park's director of marketing who played an instrumental role in bringing weekend rock and jazz to the South Florida track, was fired this week as part of a corporate restructuring, said track president Scott Savin.

Rovine joined the Gulfstream marketing department in 1995. He was a leading proponent of adding additional entertainment options at Gulfstream, including the concert series that helped draw large crowds to the facility but also angered some horsemen because of the noise.

Savin labeled the action as "corporate restructuring and reorganization of our departments." He said there will be no replacement for Rovine.

The concert series will continue through the remainder of the meet as scheduled. No decision will be made for next year until the track's budget is determined, Savin said.

Meanwhile, Gulfstream officials have elected to cut purses for three stakes in order to hold overnight purses at their current levels. The April 10 Hallandale Handicap has been reduced from $75,000 to $60,000; the April 1 Yankee Affair Stakes and April 17 Bob Slater Stakes have each been cut from $65,000 to $50,000.

"Basically we're making every attempt to hold overnight purses, that was our commitment to horsemen," Savin said. "As long as we continue to draw entries the way they have come in lately we will be able to do that."