Racing fans can win an opportunity to take an escorted trip to
Gulfstream Park's backstretch to meet trainer Dale Romans and Little
Mike, the popular gelding who won four stakes races at Gulfstream before
going on to win this year's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and Arlington
Million (G1), beginning Opening Day, Saturday Dec. 1.
From Dec. 1-15, guests can donate $1 to Gulfstream's Thoroughbred
Aftercare Program and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund to enter for
a chance to visit Little Mike on Gulfstream's backstretch and spend
time with trainer Dale Romans. On Dec. 15 the names of 50 people will be
drawn to spend the morning of Dec. 16 talking with Romans and meeting
Little Mike.
Donations will be taken for raffle tickets beginning Opening Day
between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Gulfstream's north box office. Winners
will be announced at GulfstreamPark.com, Facebook.com/GulfstreamPark, and Facebook.com/GPAfterCare.
Fans can also see Little Mike Saturday during Gulfstream's Opening
Day. The gelding will be paraded in front of the grandstand between the
ninth and 10th races on the program.
Little Mike, owned by Priscilla Vaccarezza, won four races at
Gulfstream in 2011, including the Fort Lauderdale (G3), Canadian Turf
(G3) and Appleton (G3). He returned last winter to win the Florida
Sunshine Millions Turf before going on to win the Arlington Million,
Breeders' Cup Turf and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.
"The Vaccarezza family is very generous to afford fans this
opportunity," said Gulfstream Park President Tim Ritvo. "Not only can 50
fans meet Little Mike and Dale Romans, but at the same time they can
donate to two worthy causes in Thoroughbred aftercare and the
Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund."