Pompano Park brings down the curtain on 58 years of history on Sunday with its most lucrative single overnight purse distribution in history provided by a record 229 entries in the box vying for $230,000 in purses.
The entry box was stuffed to such over capacity that three of the 19 races scheduled will be non-betting affairs to fit the State's time frame for pari-mutuel betting and the 68 entries that couldn't be accommodated to race on this historic night will also be rewarded with a stipend.
"All horses will earn at least $500," said Gabe Prewitt, Director of Racing, "and, while the usual payments are for the first five, every horse finishing sixth through last will earn $500 on this historic night."
Of course, in the "better for the bettor" department, the "Send It In Army" will have a huge buffet of wagering options never seen before with $15,000 guaranteed pools on two Pick-4 events, a pair of Pick-5 offerings, two Pick-3s and a mandatory payout on the Super Hi-5 finale, just to name a few.
The final program will also pay tribute to those past and present who played such a major role in the track's success over their long history, including the Van Lenneps, Bill Popfinger and Tom Merriman, the latter two both horsemen still going strong after helping to pop the champagne on the opening season in 1964.
Popfinger, by the way, has two horses in-to-go on the final card while Merriman will lead the post parade to begin the pari-mutuel program.
A final farewell tribute to Pompano Park will air following the grand finale mile at the famed South Florida oval. The video, produced by the Hall of Fame's videographer Chris Tully, chronicles the rich history of the track over its storied 58-year history. The production will air on the track's mega-screen and all horsemen and women, backstretch personnel and fans are invited to stay after the Super Hi-5 finale to witness this final chapter of Pompano Park.
Post time for the pari-mutuel program has been moved up to 7:01 p.m.
(With files from Pompano Park)