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Gulfstream Handicap Is Boosted to 0,000 Follows Recent Announcement of Upping Florida Derby to 00,000 HALLANDALE, Fla., June 11. — Gulf-stream Park, which recently announced the richest purse in Florida racing history by increasing the Florida Derby to 00,000 added, today sharply tilted the value of the Gulfstream Park Handicap to a record 0,000. The mile and a quarter event was previously endowed with 5,000, and in doubling its value James Donn is taking new strides in his campaign to attract top stables to the Sunshine state for the 1953 season. The Gulfstream Park Handicap had always been the chief feature of the Hallan-dale winter season prior to the introduction of the Florida Derby under its enhanced purse of 00,000. Previous winners include Do-Re-Mi, Armed, Rampart, Coal-town, Chicle II., Ennobled and Crafty Admiral. "A purse of 5,000 for the Gulfstream Park Handicap seems entirely out of line after raising the Florida Derby to 00,-000," Donn stated today. "A decision was then made to increase the mile and a quarter race to 0,000, while maintaining other stakes and handicaps on the winter calendar at the same value as last year. This means a liberal sprinkling of ,500 and 0,000 features in addition to our two big races. "I have contacted many horsemen in the East in the past few days and all have expressed their delight at the higher purses, while evidencing a real interest in racing in Florida this coming year. This includes several strings which have campaigned in the Far West for the last few seasons, attracted back to the Sunshine State by this high purse distribution." No definite running dates have been set for either the Florida Derby or the Gulfstream Park Handicap. It is possible they will be scheduled later in the year than usual, inasmuch as many large stables have already expressed their intention of remaining in Florida until the April 20 closing of the 1953 Gulfstream meeting.
