The Jockey Club and The Stronach Group jointly announced today (March 11) that Gulfstream Park, in Hallandale Beach. Fla., will become the first racetrack to use the “Graded Stakes Out-of-Competition Testing Grant Fund.”

The fund was introduced at the 2013 Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing last August, and provides financial assistance from The Jockey Club to help defray qualifying expenses associated with out-of-competition drug testing programs. In both 2014 and 2015, The Jockey Club is making available up to $250,000 in funding.

“We owe it to our horsemen and our fans to provide fair competition,” said Tim Ritvo, president, COO and general manager of Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino, a property of The Stronach Group. “Out-of-competition testing is a way for Gulfstream Park to achieve that and the Florida Derby will be the first race in our program.”

The Florida Derby will take place March 29