New this year: A Grade 1 stakes
The first Grade 1 race in Calder Race Course history, the $500,000 Princess Rooney Handicap, will highlight the 2006 Calder and Tropical at Calder stakes schedules.
The six-furlong Princess Rooney shares top billing with the Grade 2, $500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap on Calder's signature event, the $1,960,000 Summit of Speed, which will be held on July 15. The Summit of Speed offers eight stakes, including two other graded races, the Grade 2 Carry Back and Grade 3 Azalea Breeders' Cup.
Calder's second major event, the $1.6 million Festival of the Sun, will be held on Oct. 14.
Calder has been known for its multiple-stakes cards and this year will be no exception. Besides the Summit of Speed and Festival of the Sun, the track will conduct four other multiple-stakes cards during the Calder meet and four during the Tropical at Calder meet.
Among the multiple-stakes cards this summer are several new concepts, including Extreme Day at the Races on July 22 and Turf Sprint Championship Day on Aug. 5.
Extreme Day will be highlighted by the $250,000 Bob Umphrey Marathon, named after the track's former racing secretary who died suddenly on Jan. 2. The Bob Umphrey will be run at two miles on the main track and will be run on the same card as the two-furlong Rocket Man and seven-furlong Methuselah Handicap for 6-year-olds and up.
"The foundation that Bobby set here over the years is solid and we'll build further upon it," said Mike Anifantis, who succeeded Umphrey as racing secretary. "Events like the Summit of Speed have already proven successful and now it's my job to see that the momentum continues."
Ken Dunn, the Calder president, said he and his staff are always searching for new ideas to attract fans to Calder.
"Our traditional events are strong, but we must try some new things as well," said Dunn.
The 112-day Calder meet runs from April 25-Oct. 15. The 60-day Tropical meet opens Oct. 16 and continues through Jan. 2, 2007.
2006-07 Calder stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.,April 29 | Ponche Handicap | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | $100,000 |
| Sat.,April 29 | Hollywood Wildcat B.C. Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sat.,April 29 | Unbridled Stakes | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,April 29 | Miami Mile B.C. Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 150,000 |
| Sun.,May 7 | Stonewall Stallions GA. Oaks | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 75,000 |
| Mon.,May 29 | Memorial Day Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Tues.,July 4 | Mecke Handicap | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Princess Rooney Handicap (G1) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 500,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Smile Sprint Handicap (G2) | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 500,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Azalea B.C. Stakes (G3) | 3YO F | 6 furlongs | 300,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Carry Back Stakes (G2) | 3YO | 6 furlongs | 300,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Calder Turf Sprint Handicap | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Distaff Turf Sprint Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Cassidy Stakes | 2YO F | 5 furlongs | 80,000 |
| Sat.,July 15 | Birdonthewire Stakes | 2YO | 5 furlongs | 80,000 |
| Sat.,July 22 | Rocket Man Stakes | 2YO & Up | 2 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,July 22 | Bob Umphrey Turf Marathon | 3YO & Up | 2 miles (T) | 250,000 |
| Sat.,July 22 | Methuselah Handicap | 6YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sun.,July 23 | Nancy's Glitter Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 80,000 |
| Sat.,July 29 | GA. Juvenile Filly Turf Dash | 2YO F | 5 furlongs (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 5 | Fla. Stallion STKS. - Desert Vixen | 2YO F | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 5 | Fla. Stallion STKS - Dr. Fager | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 5 | Turf Sprint Championship HCP. | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 250,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 5 | Distaff Turf Sprint Chmpshp HCP. | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 250,000 |
| Sun.,Aug. 6 | Georgia Peaches | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 2 | Fla. Stallion STKS. - Susan's Girl | 2YO F | 7 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 2 | Fla. Stallion STKS. - Affirmed | 2YO | 7 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 2 | Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash | 2YO | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 2 | Catcharisingstar Stakes | 2YO F | 5 furlongs (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 2 | Lindsay Frolic Stakes | 2YO F | 1 mile | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 2 | Seacliff Stakes | 2YO | 1 mile | 50,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 4 | Carterista Handicap | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 80,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 16 | U Can Do It Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 23 | Judy's Red Shoes Stakes | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 23 | Needles Stakes | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 23 | Brave Raj B.C. Stakes | 2YO F | 1 mile 70 yds | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 23 | Foolish Pleasure B.C. Stakes | 2YO | 1 mile 70 yds | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | J J'sDream Stakes | 2YO F | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | Criterium Stakes | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | Fla. Stallion STKS. - My Dear Girl | 2YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 400,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | Fla. Stallion STKS. - In Reality | 2YO | 1 1/16 miles | 400,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | Calder Oaks | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | Calder Derby (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | Shocker T. Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 14 | Spend A Buck Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Tropical at Calder Meet | ||||
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies | 2YO F* | 7 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Jack Price Juvenile | 2YO* | 7 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap | 3YO & Up* | 6 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Bonnie Heath Turf Cup | 3YO & Up* | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles | 200,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Carl G. Rose Classic | 3YO & Up* | 1 1/8 miles | 200,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf | 2YO F* | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 11 | Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf | 2YO* | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 2 | My Charmer Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 2 | Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 2 | Three Ring Stakes | 2YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 2 | What a Pleasure Stakes | 2YO | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Dec. 3 | Georgia Debutante Stakes | 2YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 9 | Kris S. Stakes | 2YO | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 9 | Cherokee Frolic Stakes | 2YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 16 | Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 16 | La Prevoyante Handicap (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/2 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 16 | W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/2 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 16 | Fred W. Hooper Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 30 | Chaposa Springs Handicap | F&M, 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 30 | Frances A. Genter Stakes (G3) | 3YO F | 7 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 30 | Pete Axthelm Stakes | 3YO | 7 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 30 | Stage Door Betty Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Mon.,Jan. 1 | Tropical Park Oaks | 3YO F** | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Mon.,Jan. 1 | Tropical Park Derby (G3) | 3YO** | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
*Registered Fla-breds; **Foals of 2004