South Florida’s weekend calendar rarely suffers from a lack of options, but Gulfstream Park is making a case for an afternoon that combines three distinctly different pleasures: bourbon, barbecue and live horse racing.
On Saturday, September 19, the Hallandale Beach racing and entertainment destination will host Taste at the Track: Bourbon & BBQ, a culinary tasting experience inside Gulfstream Park’s Flamingo Room.
Rather than separating the dining experience from the day’s racing, Taste at the Track brings the two together. Guests will be able to sample a selection of barbecue dishes, premium bourbons and specialty cocktails while overlooking the racetrack as thoroughbreds compete below.
It’s a combination that feels particularly suited to Gulfstream Park, a property that has increasingly evolved beyond the traditional boundaries of a racetrack.
Bourbon, Barbecue and a View of the Track
The event takes place in the Flamingo Room on the third floor of Gulfstream Park, offering guests an elevated view of the racing action throughout the afternoon.
The tasting format is unlimited, with barbecue bites joined by a selection of bourbons and specialty cocktails. Instead of a traditional seated meal, guests can move through the tasting experience while following the races, creating something closer to an afternoon social event than a conventional day at the track.
General admission runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is priced at $60.
A $85 VIP ticket provides entry beginning at noon, adding an extra hour of food and tastings along with priority seating.
The event is limited to guests 21 and older.
For visitors who may not regularly follow thoroughbred racing, the format also offers a different entry point into the Gulfstream Park experience. The races provide the backdrop, while food, cocktails and the social atmosphere become as much a part of the afternoon as what happens on the track.
A South Florida Institution Continues to Evolve
Gulfstream Park has been part of South Florida’s entertainment landscape since 1939, but the modern property has grown into something considerably broader than its racing history alone.
Located at 901 South Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach, between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Gulfstream Park and The Village at Gulfstream Park combine thoroughbred racing with casino gaming, restaurants, shopping, galleries, entertainment and an open-air lifestyle center.
That mix has allowed the property to create events that appeal to audiences beyond dedicated racing fans.
Taste at the Track is one example of that evolution. Culinary events built around the racetrack allow Gulfstream Park to use one of its most recognizable assets, the spectacle of live racing, while introducing visitors to another side of the destination.
And Bourbon & BBQ has an intentionally uncomplicated formula.
Smoked and savory food, premium spirits and an afternoon overlooking the track create an experience designed as much for a group outing or weekend date as for racing enthusiasts.
Planning Your Visit
Taste at the Track: Bourbon & BBQ is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 at Gulfstream Park, located at 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009.
General admission is $60 and includes access from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. VIP admission is $85, with entry beginning at noon, an additional hour of tastings and priority seating.
Guests must be 21 or older to attend.
With South Florida’s dining and entertainment scenes increasingly overlapping, Taste at the Track offers its own interpretation of the trend, trading the traditional restaurant setting for racetrack views and pairing an afternoon of racing with bourbon and barbecue.
For Gulfstream Park, it’s another reminder that a day at the races doesn’t necessarily have to be only about the races.
