The History of Calder Racecourse
Stephen A. Calder, a Miami real estate developer, had a dream to bring summertime racing to Miami. He successfully lobbied the Florida legislature for new racing dates that would complement the spring meet at Gulfstream and the fall meet at Tropical. Calder Racecourse held its first day of racing on May 6, 1971. Not long after the new track opened the owner of Tropical announced that he would be closing that track and giving the fall dates to Calder.
The track was renovated and expanded throughout the 1980’s and was sold on a couple of occasions. With the arrival of simulcast racing in 1997 the track greatly increased its daily handle (the total money bet) and was able to increase purse money and develop the racing events it is now famous for. These improvements garnered the attention of Churchill Downs, Inc., and the company responsible for the Kentucky Derby purchased the track in 1999 for $86 million dollars.
Today, Calder is still owned by Churchill Downs but the daily racing operations have been leased to the Stronach Group, the largest thoroughbred racing company in America.
The length of the main track is one mile and Calder also boasts a 7/8 mile turf course.
Calder’s Place in Florida Racing History
Calder Race Course’s evolution — from its opening in 1971 through its eventual transition to casino gaming operations under the Hard Rock brand — reflects broader trends in the American pari-mutuel industry where racetracks have sought to diversify their revenue streams as live racing’s economic model has come under pressure. Calder’s summer meet historically provided Florida racing fans with an alternative to Gulfstream Park’s winter and spring meets, attracting horses and bettors who wanted year-round Florida action.
The track’s transformation illustrates the challenge facing many American racetracks in maintaining economically viable live racing programmes in an environment where other forms of gambling compete aggressively for consumer spending. For bettors who follow Florida racing, the practical implication is that the Florida circuit is now more concentrated at Gulfstream Park, which has invested heavily in its facilities and racing programme to maintain its position as the state’s premier venue. Understanding the history of Florida racing venues, including Calder’s contribution to the state’s racing heritage, provides useful context for assessing the current competitive landscape. For more on Florida racing, our articles on horse racing tracks in Florida and Florida, New York, Kentucky horse racing cover the state’s racing ecosystem. And our guide to Gulfstream Park racetrack covers Florida’s current premier venue.
Events at Calder Racecourse
Since 2000 Calder has hosted its annual Summit of Speed, a day of racing sprints that have hosted many Breeders’ Cup and Eclipse Award winners. Lost in the Fog and Cajun Beat have been two of the famous horses to compete in the Summit of Speed.
Calder also hosts thoroughbred auctions during the year where prospective owners can bid on top-quality thoroughbreds. Perhaps the most famous sales story to emerge from Calder is that of The Green Monkey. The horse was sold for 16 million at a Calder sale in 2006. The Green Monkey became legendary in horseracing circles when he failed to win a race and retired after just three career starts. He was subsequently sent to stud where his fee was a modest $5,000.
In 2014 it was announced that Gulfstream Park would host fall meets at Calder under the name Gulfstream Park West.
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