Tropical Park Derby
Encyclopedia
The Tropical Park Derby is an American
Thoroughbred
horse race run at Calder Race Course
in Miami Gardens, Florida
on New Year’s Day which makes it the first “derby” of the year. The one and one eighth mile Ungraded stakes race
run on turf
for 3-year-olds offers a purse of $100,000 added. Prior to 1994, the race was run on dirt. The race was downgraded from a Grade III race in 2011 by the American Graded Stakes Committee. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60173/2011-graded-stakes-13-fewer-than-10/
Inaugurated in 1975, the Tropical Park Derby, named for the old Tropical Park Race Track
in Miami, is thought of as the first step on the American Triple Crown
trail.
Due to financial pressure, Calder cancelled this race for 2009. http://www.churchilldownsincorporated.com/our_company/company_news/2008/12/12/calder_race_course_cancels_three_remaining_stakes_on_tropical_sc
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse race run at Calder Race Course
Calder Race Course
Calder Casino & Race Course is a casino and horse racetrack in Miami Gardens, Florida in the United States.-History:In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime racing in Florida; in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill...
in Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...
on New Year’s Day which makes it the first “derby” of the year. The one and one eighth mile Ungraded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
run on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
for 3-year-olds offers a purse of $100,000 added. Prior to 1994, the race was run on dirt. The race was downgraded from a Grade III race in 2011 by the American Graded Stakes Committee. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60173/2011-graded-stakes-13-fewer-than-10/
Inaugurated in 1975, the Tropical Park Derby, named for the old Tropical Park Race Track
Tropical Park Race Track
Tropical Park Race Track was a horse racing facility built on at the current intersection of Bird Road and the Palmetto Expressway in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in what is now the neighborhood of Olympia Heights. The race track was built by Bill Dwyer, a prohibition era bootlegger, and Frank...
in Miami, is thought of as the first step on the American Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
trail.
Due to financial pressure, Calder cancelled this race for 2009. http://www.churchilldownsincorporated.com/our_company/company_news/2008/12/12/calder_race_course_cancels_three_remaining_stakes_on_tropical_sc
Past winners
- 2011 - King Congie
- 2010 - Fly by Phil (Eduardo NunezEduardo NúñezEduardo Michelle Núñez Mendez is a Major League Baseball infielder for the New York Yankees. He was a non-drafted signee with the Yankees in 2004. The Yankees view Núñez as a possible replacement at shortstop for Derek Jeter.Following the 2009 season, Núñez was added to the 40-man roster to...
) - 2008 - Cowboy Cal (John Velazquez)
- 2007 - Soldier's Dancer (Cornelio VelasquezCornelio VelásquezCornelio H. Velásquez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was introduced to horse racing at age fifteen by trainer Carlos Salazar Guardia in his native Panama and enrolled in the national jockey school...
) - 2006 - BarbaroBarbaroBarbaro was an American thoroughbred who decisively won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but shattered his leg two weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, ending his racing career and eventually leading to his death....
- 2005 - Lord Robyn
- 2004 - Kitten's JoyKitten's JoyKitten's Joy is an American Thoroughbred racehorse by the Sadler's Wells stallion El Prado out of the Lear Fan mare Kitten's First. Kitten's Joy is owned and bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey...
- 2003 - Nothing to LoseNothing to LoseNothing to Lose is a 1997 comedy starring Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins. The film was directed by Steve Oedekerk who also wrote the film and made a cameo appearance as a lip-synching security guard in the film....
- 2002‡- Political Attack
- 2001 - Proud Man
- 2000 - Go Lib Go
- 1999 - Valid Reprized
- 1998 - Draw Again
- 1997 - Arthur L.
- 1996 - Ok By Me
- 1995 - Mecke
- 1994 - Fabulous Frolic
- 1993 - Summer Set
- 1992 - TechnologyTechnologyTechnology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
- 1991 - Jackie Wackie
- ‡ In 2002, the race was run off the turf, but retained its GIII status.