Gulfstream Park West
21001 N.W. 27th Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
about this track
Formerly known as Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park West is located in Miami Gardens, Fla. next to Pro Player Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins.
Formerly known as Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park West is located in Miami Gardens, Fla. next to Pro Player Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins.
In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime racing in Florida; and in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill allowing for it. Prior to this time, a fall meet was held at Tropical Park Race Track in Miami and a spring meet at Gulfstream Park in Broward County. In 1970, Stephen Calder received a permit for summertime racing but the meet was run at Tropical Park because construction was not complete at Calder. On May 6, 1971 Calder Race Course held its first day of racing. When William L. McKnight became the new owner of Tropical Park, he stated his intentions of closing the track and switching the dates to the Calder track, of which he was one of the principal investors. Racing ceased at Tropical Park in 1972.
The 1980s brought about renovations and expansions and two purchases. The first purchase was by Bertram R. Firestone and the second was by Kawasaki Leasings, Inc. In 1992 the "Festival of the Sun" was introduced. By 1997, simulcasting was introduced (so bets could be placed on Calder races from other tracks and off-track locations). The handle increased significantly and the track increased purses. In January 1999, Churchill Downs Incorporated purchased Calder Race Course for approximately $86 million. In the first years of the new century the track introduced the "Florida Million" and the "Summit of Speed".
Calder's Summit of Speed has produced several Breeders’ Cup champions and Eclipse Award winners since its start in 2000. The Eclipse award is the highest honor bestowed in American racing. In its short history, the Summit of Speed has attracted some of the country's top sprinters, including Cajun Beat and Orientate who both went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint championship races (Orientate 2002, Cajun Beat 2003). Plus, in 2005, Lost in the Fog won at Calder, although was later defeated in the Breeders' Cup. The Summit of Speed has turned out to be the single biggest day in the history of Calder. In 2004, over $10.8 million was wagered on the event.
The "Florida Million" is a $1.2 million dollar 8 race stakes program for Florida-breds taking place late in the year. These races consist of the $200,000 Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap, the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup Handicap, the $200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap, the $150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap, the $100,000 Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf, the $150,000 Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies, the $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile, and the $100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf.
In late-2009, Calder changed its official name to Calder Casino & Race Course, and opened Studz Poker Club, a 29-table card room located in the Grandstand.
The grand opening of the Calder Casino was celebrated in January 2010.
In 2014 Churchill Downs Incorporated reached an agreement with The Stronach Group (TSG) in which TSG will operate and maintain the Calder race meet and training facilities through 2020. TSG renamed the Calder meet "Gulfstream Park West."