Riding the crest of a thrilling Breeders’ Cup weekend, Gulfstream Park opened its gates Monday to the horsemen and thoroughbreds that will put on an equally thrilling 2010 live-race meeting, beginning Jan. 3.

Next Saturday marks the 50-day point until opening day and anticipation is running high for Gulfstream Park’s 68th session.

Bolstering interest in Gulfstream’s traditional world-class quality of sport will be the presence of the Pro Bowl, the National Football League’s All-Star game, at Landshark Stadium, less than 10 miles from Gulfstream, on Jan. 31, followed by the Super Bowl there on Feb. 7.

Closer to home, the Donn Handicap will be run at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Feb. 6, the day before the Pro Bowl, and on Thursday, Feb. 11, will be the grand opening of the eagerly anticipated Village at Gulfstream Park.

The 79-day meeting is highlighted by the $750,000 Florida Derby, the world’s leading prep race for the Kentucky Derby, having turned out 21 winners of the classic Run for the Roses.

Horses campaigning at Gulfstream Park will be stabled here; at Magna Entertainment Corp.’s magnificent satellite training facility, Palm Meadows, in Boynton Beach, about 50 miles to the north; and throughout South Florida, from Indiantown in Palm Beach County to Miami Gardens in Upper Dade.