b'JosePH dioriosoUth FlorIDa traININg choIcesG boarding and private training facility. It has aing surfaces, which are similar to Gulfstream Gulfstream Park not only offers a great venue and location for Thoroughbred racingmile main exercise track thats 65 feet wide,Parks.but also gives horsemen other options forwith a quarter-mile starting chute. TheresA system of horse paths connect the barns stabling and training. Thats because in addi- also a seven-furlong turf course. and main track so a horse never needs to walk tion to on-site facilities, the track is withinPalm Beach Downs is the winter homeon pavement to access the oval.driving distance of Gulfstream Park West,for the stable of Todd Pletcher, the leadingIf theres a nicer place in the world, I Palm Beach Downs, Palm Meadows, andtrainer each of the past 15 championshiphavent seen it, trainer Mike Maker said. Payson Park. meets at Gulfstream Park. Its a nice facility; good racetrack, nice turf Gulfstream Park West, formerly knownPalm Beach Downs is really good for ourcourse; barns are nice. Its a great place to as Calder Race Course, is in Miami Gardens,stable, Pletcher told Thoroughbred Racinghave a horse.about a half-hour drive to Gulfstream Park inCommentary. It allows us to have a majorityPayson Park, in Indiantown, originally Hallandale Beach. of our horses in one place during the winterwas built as the St. Lucie Training Center A one-mile main track includes two-fur- months. Its a small facility with only aboutin the 1950s. After a period of decline in long and seven-furlong chutes with a sand- 180 horses on the grounds, so its a quietthe 1970s, it was resurrected, refurbished, and-clay surface. A Tifton Bermuda grass turfatmosphere for the horses, and theres also aand renamed by owner Virginia Payson in course is seven furlongs with a quarter-milemile racetrack where you can get them ready1980.chute.to run. Bill Mott, Shug McGaughey, and Chris-The heavy track is perfect for trainingIts kind of in between the farm and thetophe Clement are among the trainers who our younger horses, said trainer Antonioracetrack life for horses. work at Payson, which is about 90 minutes Sano, who ships his horses the morning ofJust outside Boynton Beach, about anfrom Gulfstream Park. Theres a sandy-base races. Plus, the proximity to Gulfstream ishour from Gulfstream Park, is the Palmmile-long main track and an irrigated mile-ideal. Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center,long turf track.About an hour north of Gulfstream Parkowned and operated by The Stronach Group. The track is a remarkable track, Clem-sits Palm Beach Downs, a gated 85-acreThere are a variety of dirt and turf train- ent said. Its a safer track than most places.2504_WinterRacing.indd 25 3/21/19 2:31 PM'