The details have come together for the establishment of a showcase night of annual racing at The Isle Pompano Park. On Saturday, February 6, it will be built around the inaugural Bernie Goldstein Memorial Pace for a $50,000 purse
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"It's really great to be able to able to announce this and position a top notch night of harness racing at The Isle Pompano Park on the eve of the Super Bowl here in South Florida," says The Isle Pompano Park's Director Of Racing, John Yinger. "We feel it's important to preserve and honour the memory of Bernie Goldstein. In gaming circles he was known as the 'Godfather of Riverboat Gambling'. He was also the visionary that began the Isle Of Capri casino chain, which brought a major gaming attraction to many markets in the United States that wouldn't have otherwise had that," Yinger adds. "At our property, he was also instrumental in the purchase of Pompano Park more than 10 years before everything came together for the company to establish the casino here. We feel this will commemorate his crucial contributions to the preservation and legacy of harness racing at Pompano Park."
The plan thus far for February 6 at The Isle Pompano Park calls for:
- the inaugural Bernie Goldstein Memorial Free For All/Invitational Pace for a $50,000 purse;
- a fillies and mares Open/Invitational Pace for a $30,000 purse; and
- an Open/Invitational Trot for a $30,000 purse
"In the coming weeks we'll have announcements about other attractions that night too," Yinger says. "It's Super Bowl weekend here in South Florida and we'll be tying into the football theme in a big way. Other attractions are planned for our fans and visitors too. This will give us two premium nights of racing for the 2009-2010 meet since the inaugural Bernie Goldstein Memorial Pace program is in addition to the Florida Breeders Super Night back on December 5. The next month's planning and lead up to February 6th is going to be really exciting," Yinger adds.
(Pompano Park)