Sunshine Millions Preview added to Gulfstream calendar

Gulfstream Park has announced the creation of the Sunshine Millions Preview

Day, featuring eight stakes races for Florida-breds with total purses of $1

million.

The Sunshine Millions Preview Day will take place for the first time at

Gulfstream on November 9 and will serve as a prep for the $1.3 million Sunshine

Millions, to be held January 18.

The eight races comprising the Sunshine Millions Preview Day are:

"We would like to thank the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners'

Association (FTBOA) and Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association

(FHBPA) for working with us to put on another great day of racing," Gulfstream

Park President Tim Ritvo said. "We believe the Sunshine Millions Preview Day is

another step in strengthening our summer program. We look forward to developing

more series like this to showcase Florida-breds and continue making them a

prominent part of our program."

Earlier this month, Gulfstream announced it would host the Florida Sire

Stakes beginning in 2014. The Florida Sire Stakes is a series of six races for

two-year-olds sired by nominated Florida stallions.

"The Florida breeders and owners are excited to see the creation of a brand

new day like this Sunshine Millions Preview Day on the Gulfstream calendar that

will feature eight races," said Lonny Powell, CEO of the FTBOA. "It's great for

our racing and breeding industry. We thank Gulfstream and the FHBPA for coming

together on this day and including our state-breds in such a prominent and

lucrative fashion."

Kent Stirling, executive director of the FHBPA, said, "The horsemen are happy

the newly named Sunshine Millions Preview Day will remain a million-dollar day

for Florida-breds."

Ten weeks after the Sunshine Millions Preview, Gulfstream will play host to

the 12th edition of the Sunshine Millions. The day's races will serve as a

precursor to the 43rd annual Eclipse Awards. Thoroughbred racing's awards

ceremony will be held for the second consecutive year in Gulfstream's Sport of

Kings.

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