Gulfstream Park will hold its first-ever quarter-horse race on Dec. 31 and might hold a second race with that breed of horses on Jan. 1.

Gulfstream has had a quarter horse permit for several years. It is scheduling quarter horse races over the New Year’s weekend because it is concerned that the Florida Legislature next year might revoke some dormant pari-mutuel permits, the track’s president and general manager Tim Ritvo said in a statement.

That issue will be discussed in the Legislature partly because of the publicity over Gretna Racing in the northwest Florida town of Gretna. Gretna Racing is utilizing a loophole in Florida laws to use a quarter horse license for the state’s first pari-mutuel barrel racing.

The Gulfstream New Year’s weekend quarter horse event will follow the Christmas weekend during which it has several schedule changes.

On Saturday, Gulfstream will have an early first post time of 12 p.m. The feature on Saturday’s nine-race card is the $60,000 Ginger Brew Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 2-year-old fillies.

Gulfstream will not have racing on Sunday, Christmas Day. On Monday, usually a dark day, it will have 11 races with its regular first post time of 12:35 p.m.

The Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association is opposed to the two upcoming quarter horse races because its contract with Gulfstream does not allow any racing other than thoroughbreds through Dec. 31, 2012, said Kent Stirling, the association’s executive director.

Ritvo said that Gulfstream will set aside separate money to pay race purses for the New Year’s weekend quarter horse races.

Hialeah Park is the only Florida track that holds conventional quarter horse racing,

By holding those races, Hialeah under a 2010 state law is eligible to have a casino — which it plans to build. But three other pari-mutuels have filed a lawsuit, now under consideration by the Supreme Court of Florida, that challenges Hialeah’s right to have a casino.

Saturday stakes

The Ginger Brew has 13 entrants, with no clear-cut favorite. That increases the prospect of some big trifecta and superfecta payouts.

Spirited Miss, Sinister Brew and Frolic’s Revenge are among possible favorites. Spirited Miss, trained by Mark Casse, has second- and fourth-place finishes in a pair of stakes races at Woodbine in Etobicoke, Ontario. Luis Contreras will ride on Saturday,

Hialeah schedule

Hialeah Park will have quarter horse racing on Saturday, with its regular first post time of 1:15 p.m.

It will not have racing on Sunday. It will have racing on Monday, usually a dark day, with first post time of 1:15 p.m.