Each December the very best horses, trainers, and jockeys converge in Hallandale, Florida for the Gulfstream Park meeting, which currently runs until April.

Opened in 1939, the marquee event of the meeting is the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which was first run in 1952. The race serves as a major prep for the Kentucky Derby each year.

In two of the last seven years the Florida Derby winner has gone on to win the Run for the Roses. Barbaro swept both races in 2006 and Big Brown did the same two years later.

The 2012 Florida Derby winner was Take Charge Indy, a son of Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady. The colt was a disappointing 19th in the Kentucky Derby.

The Grade 1 Donn Handicap attracts many of the top older horses each year. First run in 1959, the race was won twice by the undefeated Cigar, who won the race in 1995 and 1996.

Hall of fame ride Jerry Bailey leads all jockeys in wins in the Donn with six.

The first female to win the jockey title at the track was hall of famer Julie Krone, who booted home 98 winners in 1993.

Javier Castellano took the jockey title at the 2011-2012 meeting with a record 112 winners from 425 mounts, outdistancing runner up John Velazquez, who won 76 races.

Todd Pletcher dominates at the track having won the trainer’s title nine years in a row. Pletcher won with 72 of 179 starters (40%) at the 2011-2012 meeting. Second in the trainer standings was Chad Brown with 29 winners.

Graded stakes run at Gulfstream Park:

Grade 1
Donn Handicap
Florida Derby
Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap

Grade 2
Gulfstream Park Oaks
Davona Dale Stakes
Forward Gal Stakes
Fountain of Youth Stakes
Ft. Lauderdale Stakes
Gulfstream Park Handicap
Honey Fox Handicap
Hutcheson Stakes
Pan American Handicap
Inside Information Stakes
Mac Diarmida Handicap
Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship
Swale Stakes

Grade 3
Appleton Handicap
Canadian Turf Handicap
Deputy Minister Handicap
Hal's Hope Stakes
Herecomesthebride Stakes
Holy Bull Stakes
Hurricane Bertie Handicap
Marshua's River Stakes
Mr. Prospector Handicap
Old Hat Stakes
Orchid Handicap
Palm Beach Stakes
Rampart Stakes
Sabin Stakes
Skip Away Handicap
Sugar Swirl Handicap
Suwannee River Handicap
Very One Handicap