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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing Douglas Donn for his vision and

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expertise in thoroughbred track development and his

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leadership in many public service organizations in

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Florida.

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     WHEREAS, Douglas Donn's vision and expertise propelled

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Gulfstream Park to one of the world's leading thoroughbred tracks

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in the United States during his tenure as President and later as

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Chairman of Gulfstream from 1978 until 2004, and

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     WHEREAS, Douglas Donn was the youngest chief executive

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officer of a major thoroughbred track when at age 31 he assumed

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the post at the Hallandale, Florida, track following the untimely

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death of his father, Jimmy Donn, Jr., and

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     WHEREAS, under Douglas Donn's leadership, Gulfstream Park

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attained exceptional gains in attendance, handle, and purse

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distribution in an industry experiencing nationwide declines, and

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     WHEREAS, among the milestones achieved under Douglas Donn's

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leadership were the emergence of Gulfstream as one of the world's

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foremost racing centers and the winter home of choice for most

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Triple Crown aspirants; the hosting of The Breeders' Cup, the

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World Championship of Racing, in Florida for the first time at

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Gulfstream in 1989, with repeat performances in 1992 and 1999;

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and the establishment of the richest racing purse structure in

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Florida's history, which attracted many of the nation's leading

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owners, trainers, jockeys, and thoroughbreds to Gulfstream, and

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     WHEREAS, Douglas Donn also established the lowest take-out

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rate in the State of Florida, ensuring larger payoffs for track

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patrons; actively implemented aggressive and innovative

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marketing, public relations, customer services, better incentive

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programs, and entertainment at Gulfstream; created "Family Days"

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every weekend which headlined nationally featured bands, singers,

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comedians, and specialty acts for children, resulting in

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thousands of additional patrons to Gulfstream; guided Gulfstream

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to state pari-mutuel handle records in every category; instituted

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full-card simulcasting; developed a precedent-setting agreement

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with the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association

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to share pari-mutuels in Florida; and negotiated the annual

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telecast of the Florida Derby, nationally recognized as a preview

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to the Triple Crown, on ABC's Wide World of Sports, making

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Gulfstream the first thoroughbred race track to gain that

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distinction, and

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     WHEREAS, Douglas Donn has been honored for his outstanding

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contributions to the industry by the Florida Horseman's

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Benevolent and Protective Association; has been named "Horseman

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of the Year" by the Florida Turf Writers Association and "Man of

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the Year" by the Jockey Agents Benevolent Association; and was

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also named "Businessman of the Year" in 1984 by the United

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Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and

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     WHEREAS, Douglas Donn has provided a wide variety of public

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service, including his roles as Member of the Board of Directors

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of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Past Chairman of the

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Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Past Chairman of the Broward

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Forum, Past Director of the Broward Economic Development Board,

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Past Chairman of the Downtown Hollywood Redevelopment Agency,

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Past Chairman of the South Area United Way, Past Chairman of the

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Hallandale Police Athletic League, and Board Member of the

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Hallandale Chamber of Commerce, and

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     WHEREAS, Douglas Donn graduated from Florida State

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University with a degree in Marketing and served a tour of active

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duty in the Marine Corps Reserves before beginning his Gulfstream

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career, and, with his wife, Alice, is a resident of Ft.

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Lauderdale, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Senate recognizes the many great contributions

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Douglas Donn has made to the progress of thoroughbred racing in

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Florida and to the support of essential public service

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organizations that have significantly benefited Florida

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communities and residents.

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     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with

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the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Douglas Donn as a

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tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.