Calder cancels Tropical Turf, My Charmer

MIAMI - Calder officials announced Wednesday that they have canceled both the $100,000 Tropical Turf and My Charmer handicaps that had originally been scheduled but postponed on Dec. 5 due to a quarantine that restricted travel in and out of the barn area. Both the Tropical Turf and My Charmer are Grade 3 events.

In making the decision, management said it would re-allocate a portion of the purse monies from the two canceled stakes to overnight purses during the remaining three weeks of the Tropical Park meet. According to Calder management, the decision was supported by the leadership of the Florida Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association.

Calder had already canceled three stakes due to purse considerations in 2009. There are four more stakes left on the schedule, all of them graded, before the meet closes Jan. 2.

The Calder barn area was first quarantined Dec. 1 after a horse from the stable of trainer Bill White was diagnosed with a case of equine herpesvirus. The quarantine that limited travel in and out of the track was lifted Monday, but three barns remain under restriction until Dec. 21.