Tropical Park Derby

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.
Inaugurated in 1976, 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.
Past winners

2011 - King Congie
2010 - Fly by Phil (Eduardo Nunez)
2008 - Cowboy Cal (John Velazquez)
2007 - Soldier's Dancer (Cornelio Velasquez)
2006 - Barbaro
2005 - Lord Robyn
2004 - Kitten's Joy
2003 - Nothing to Lose
2002
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