History
Calder opened in 1971 as a summer counterpart to South Florida's winter tracks and became a proving ground for young horses; Spend A Buck and Barbaro both won there early in their careers. Churchill Downs bought the track in 1999.
From 2014 Churchill leased racing to The Stronach Group, which ran meets under the Gulfstream Park West name. The grandstand was torn down by October 2016, and the last race was run on November 28, 2020, leaving the Calder Casino as the main use of the site.
Why it matters: It was South Florida's summer racing home for nearly 50 years.
Timeline
- May 6, 1971First day of racing[1]
Calder Race Course held its first racing day.
- June 4, 2005
Jockey Eddie Castro won nine races on one card, a North American record.
- October 2016Grandstand demolished[1]
Demolition of the seven-story grandstand was completed.
- November 28, 2020
Diligent won the final race at the track.
The site today
| Physical status | Partially demolished[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Calder Casino (slots and gaming) on part of the property[1] |
| Mapped location | City-level location (exact site not confirmed) |
Venue facts
| Other names | Gulfstream Park West (2014–2020) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21001 NW 27th Avenue, Miami Gardens, Miami Gardens, Florida[1] |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred |
| Opened | May 6, 1971[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | November 28, 2020[2,3] |
| Demolished | October 2016[1] |
| Physical status | Partially demolished |
| Owner / operator | Churchill Downs Inc. (from 1999); racing leased to The Stronach Group from 2014 |
| Closure | Racing was consolidated at Gulfstream Park; the owner kept the casino. |
Documented details
- Eddie Castro's nine wins on June 4, 2005 remain a single-card record, per the Boston Globe.[2]
Sources
- Calder Casino, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, current land use, demolished, events, opened
- After 50 years of racing, Calder closes the track, Boston Globe (Associated Press). Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, events, opened
- After 50 years, Calder runs its last horse race, WPLG Local 10. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed
- Miami Gardens, Florida, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Opening: Wikipedia gives May 6, 1971; the Boston Globe gives May 4, 1971.
- Wikipedia's Calder Casino article still says racing continues as Gulfstream Park West; the Boston Globe and Local 10 report the final race in November 2020.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.