Photo:

John Voorhees / Eclipse Sportswire

Gulfstream Park added 85 feet to the run-up before races at 1 1/16 miles and 53 feet to 1 1/8-mile races on the main track.

Daily Racing Form reported that the changes are effective immediately and will be in play for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race offers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points for Kentucky Derby 2025.

Bill Badgett, executive director of Florida racing operations at Gulfstream, told DRF jockeys had requested the change to give them more distance to travel before entering the clubhouse turn.

The new run-up distance will be safer for horses and riders, according to the report, and could address some of the disadvantage of drawing outside posts for races at those distances.

Other races that would be affected by the change are the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Florida Derby (G1), both of which are run at 1 1/8 miles.