Short Recap 1st Time To Gulfstream and Miami Area
 

- NEVER stay at the Budget Hotel, even if it is the only hotel under $120 at 11pm after you have been up way too long and drove way too much, on the beach off A1A just north of Pompano. Oh my God the stories I could tell:eek:

- Gulfstream Park is great. A great atmosphere sitting outside yesterday (Weds) at a table along the front stretch. Some thoughts,

GREAT simulcast facility!
Good job not smothering the Horse Players with the slots, there is a seperation
The paddock and viewing area where they walk the horses is just great with plenty of seating and 3 big screen tvs, just great
What a view with the beach condos, etc in the backdrop!
Plenty of parking and easy access to US1 and 95!

If you have never been I just can't say enough about what a pleasure it was to spend the day yesterday there. I may not have cashed a single ticket but that is the farthest from my mind as I truly left the track with nothing but smiles. Now, it became very evident to me quickly that there are a lot of angry Northeastern retired guys who like to cuss and scream at the tellers, but oh well:p

I could go on and on but I don't want to bore those 2 or 3 people who read this. Great time and I'll be back in a couple weeks. Wish I could have spent the day today there but I had to get back home to Jacksonville.

Oh yeah, put on your list of things you should do before you die is to see the downtown skyline of Miami at night:$:

No offense...

But you need to get out more.

yeah, I guess if you are from Minnesota, Wisconsin, or some other remote place, then South Florida is pretty nice.

As far as Gulfstream is concerned, Frank ruined it.

I love South Florida.

My comment was strictly pertaining to Gulfstream. I was there a few weeks ago and what has become of Gulfstream is just sickening.

People who have never been to Gulfstream before, love it. People who experienced the old Gulfstream, tend to lean the opposite way.

Having been to old/new Gulfstream and being fully aware of the shell of it's former self that it is now I can almost understand Frank's vision for the place. He was obviously interested in creating a modern facility that focused on simulcasting. One of his own properties, Lone Star, basically embodies that image. The problem is he took it to an extreme at GP and what we're left with is a tiny facility that doesn't even compare to what it once was.

NT

You can put me in this category and it was only 31 degrees when I was there! Gulfstream has always been one of my favorite tracks to watch and wager, but now that I've been there it is easily in my top 5, possibly top 3 tracks.

I understand his vision and it actually makes sense to some degree. It just wasn't done very well at Gulfstream.

Top 3 sightseek? I know you have been to some pretty serious tracks. Would you rate the current gulfstream over:

Arlington park?
Saratoga?
Keeneland?
Santa Anita?
Del Mar?
Charlestown? :p

It used to be nice to hang out on the grassy area, read the form and walk up to the grandstand with 1 minute to post to watch the race. Lets not get started on the main track configuration not allowing for a 1 1/16 mile race or a two turn 1 mile race.

I have a love/hate relationship with Keeneland. Gorgeous place, but I can't stand the crowds. I like it more for simulcast or for the sales.

I never went to the old GP....but I can imagine that nearly anything at all would've been better than what they've got right now.

It's not that it's not beautiful...it's really NICE there...it's that it's wildly unfriendly to the casual horseplayer as far as the layout goes.

Though then again, someone just rated Arlington under the new Gulfstream, so this thread has lots of Esoteric potential :D

I am going to Gulfstream for the first time for the florida Derby. Is there a best place to be to get to the paddock and back to the track in time for the race trhough crowds of people. Is there a best place to sit? I love Santa Anita for the ease of that. Is it easy to see the workouts in the mornings?

That shouldn't be a problem. It's a very short walk from paddock to finish line. Even if there is a large crowd, less than a minute will get you back and forth.



That's the biggest problem with the new GP. Nowhere to sit and watch. For me the best place to sit and watch is at the about the 1/16 pole standing on a picnic bench. There are a few seats at the finish line, but you have to get there very early for that, and there is ZERO grandstand to sit and watch.

Or if you can get past the worker on the stairs leading to the dining room, thats a great place to watch the race halfway up the stairs. You'll see TAP watching the races there.

I'm not a big atmosphere person.

Mountaineer is easily the nastiest track I've ever been to. That includes dog tracks, harness tracks, and even Jai-Li frontons.

Not that there's anything wrong with being nasty and not that I mind it.

I don't know if its still going on today but Hotwire.com sent me an email about a fire sale for hotel rooms. So I went on yesterday and it said 4 star hotel rooms in Hollywood for $120 a night. I clicked on it and there it was. I booked a room for the Friday and Sat night for Florida Derby for a total of $277. They give you the hotel after you buy but guarantees a 4 star and I ended up getting the Crown Plaza one mile down the road on Hallandale Blvd, right on the beach. I almost crapped my pants. I went on their personal website and the rooms go for $270 a night. I stayed at a run down Holiday Inn for the same price last year. Check this out if you haven't booked a room yet.

thats a nice place.been a few times..have fun.

I got the same hotel on priceline name your own price for $90 a night. Very nice, the pool area is fantastic and you can walk across the street to the beach. Parking is extra though.

Mountaineer is gross but not worse than the old Yonkers pre-slots or Beulah or Thistleydowns. Dania Jai-Alai probably gets my vote for grossest parimutuel facility I've been to.

It's a great hotel, you will love it.

You guys need to learn the power of Priceline, especially in areas like South FL. NEVER, EVER pay full price.


As for the angst over the "new" Gulfstream, I don't get it. I loved the old place and love the new place. Who cares if it's small? What is the benefit of having a cavernous, Belmont-style place these days? The track is great, the racing is great, and the bar areas are great.

Thistledowns?

Thistledowns is like friggen Hialeah in it's prime compared to Mountaineer.

:tro:
Oh how I miss Milford Connecticut Jai Alai. My wife actually brought me there the first time and I loved it. Too bad they closed the damn place.