A Look Back at ‘Extreme Day’ at Calder Race Course

Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida, tried to create an extreme racing day in 2006. The weather was bad and the event was cancelled. Calder tried again later in the year and it worked. The event took place on November 25th. It was the first time the weather cooperated. They were disappointed with the cancellation.

Extreme Day presented some extreme challenges. The track announcer had to call two races at the same time in the World’s Fastest Daily Double. In 2007, only 7,195 people came to the track. In Extreme Day II, the weather didn't cooperate. However, it was fun enough for Calder to organize it again.

The Fast N’ Furious Stakes is a two-furlong dirt race. The Methusela Starter Stake is for 5-year-olds and older. King George's Wrong Way Starter Race is 1.5 miles on turf going the opposite direction. Gray Pride Staking is $45,000 starter stakes restricted to horses that are gray or roan in color. World”s Fastest Daily Double is two races run simultaneously on the dirt and turf courses.

The Wrong Way Stakes was moved off the turf to the dirt. Rain Song won both the Rocket Man Stake and the Fast N’ Furious Staking in 2006. Caller One won the race by a neck.

The second edition of Extreme Day was held in 2007. It was cancelled the following year because the fans didn't materialize. The third edition was a $10,000 claiming race where bettors could wager both on the outcome of the race and the order of horses at the halfway point.