The Memorial Day Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1971 through 2014 at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida. Held on Memorial Day, it was an ungraded stakes race that had earned Grade III status in 2002–2007 and 2009–2010. The race was open to horses age three and older and was last raced on dirt over a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs).

With the Vietnam War officially ended on April 30, 1975, the race was run as the Empty Saddle Handicap, done to demonstrate the real meaning of Memorial Day with a salute to the fallen soldiers of American wars.

In 2014, Calder's racing operations were leased to the Stronach Group, operators of Gulfstream Park, when Csaba won the race with Manoel Cruz in the saddle. Stronach Group did not pick up this race for their 2015 program.BloodHorse.com June 16, 2014 article titled "Calder Cancels Summit of Speed for This Year"

Records Speed record: miles on dirt : 1:44.59 by Where's Sterling in 2012 miles on turf : 1:40.80 by Born Mighty in 1998

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Gene St. Leon (1974, 1975, 1977, 1988)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 – James E. Bracken (1976, 1988, 1990) 3 – Philip A. Gleaves (2010, 2013, 2014)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Tartan Stable (1972, 1988, 1990) 2 – Donamire Farm (2004, 2005) 2 – Rolbea Thoroughbred Racing LLC (2008, 2009) 2 – Bruce Hollander & Cary Shapoff (2013, 2014)

Winners Year WinnerAge Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (M) Surface Time Win$ 2014Csaba5Manoel CruzPhilip A. GleavesBruce Hollander & Cary Shapoff1 Mdirt1:47.17$45,0002013Csaba4Manoel CruzPhilip A. GleavesBruce Hollander & Cary Shapoff1 Mdirt1:46.20$45,0002012Where's Sterling5Juan N. DelgadoLuis M. RamirezFrank C. Calabrese1 Mdirt1:44.59$45,0002011Motovato6Luis SaezMartin D. WolfsonTeam Valor International & Gary Barber1 Mdirt1:46.48$45,0002010Mambo Meister5Manoel CruzPhilip A. GleavesQuantum Racing Team1 Mdirt1:45.70$60,0002009FinallymadeitThe 2009 Memorial Day Handicap at the NTRA5Eduardo O. NunezJavier NegreteRolbea Thoroughbred Racing LLC1 Mdirt1:45.55$60,0002008Finallymadeit4Eduardo O. NunezJavier NegreteRolbea Thoroughbred Racing LLC1 Mdirt1:47.10$23,0002007Dry Martini4Elvis TrujilloHarry BensonCarol & George Nyren1 Mdirt1:46.41$60,0002006Siphon City4Elvis TrujilloDaniel C. HurtakRay Larkin1 Mdirt1:45.87$60,0002005Twilight Road8Phil TeatorDavid J. FawkesDonamire Farm1 Mdirt1:47.71$60,0002004Twilight Road7Phil TeatorDavid J. FawkesDonamire Farm1 Mdirt1:45.79$60,0002003Dancing Guy8Roger I. VelezNewcomb GreenNewcomb Green1 Mdirt1:45.56$60,0002002 Best Of The Rest7Cornelio VelásquezEdward Plesa Jr.Beatrice Oxenberg1 Mdirt1:44.75$60,0002001Hal's Hope4Roger I. VelezHarold J. RoseRose Family Stable1 Mdirt1:45.81$45,0002000Dancing Guy5José C. FerrerNewcomb GreenFrances Green1 Mdirt1:46.28$45,0001999Wicapi7Eibar CoaJoseph G. CalascibettaAcclaimed Racing Stable1 Mdirt1:46.79$45,0001998 Born Mighty4José Alberto Rivera IIWilliam P. WhiteJudson Van Worp1 Mturf1:40.80$30,0001997 Vilhelm5José C. FerrerJacqueline A. BrittainKeith C. Wold1 Mturf1:40.80$30,0001996Marcie's Ensign4Eibar CoaLuis OlivaresCobble View Stable1 Mdirt1:50.00$30,0001995 Mr. Light Tres6Kristi L. ChapmanCarl A. NafzgerJames B. Tafel & Gardner Landon1 Mturf1:47.00$30,0001994Final Sunrise4Pedro A. RodriguezLuis OlivaresJ. K. Arriola & K. Barket Jr.1 Mdirt1:51.80$30,0001993Boots 'n Buck4Mary RussEmanuel TortoraBee Bee Stables, Inc. & Toni Tortora1 Mdirt1:53.80$30,0001992Jodi's Sweetie4Jorge C. DuarteMartin D. WolfsonLeslie Alexander1 M±turf1:44.20$30,0001991S. W. Wildcard5Pedro A. RodriguezGeorge GianosWillis Family Stables, Inc.1 Mdirt1:46.80$34,1101990 Primal5Heberto Castillo Jr.James E. BrackenTartan Stable1 Mdirt1:47.40$33,1801989Hooting Star4José A. Vélez Jr.Ralph ZiadiePower House Racing Stable, Inc.1 Mturf1:41.20 $33,3001988 Billie Osage4Gene St. LeonJames E. BrackenTartan Stable1 Mdirt1:46.20$33,1501987no race1986no race1985Rexson's Hope4Gary W. BainHarold J. RoseElsie A. Rose Stable, Inc.1M, 70 ydsdirt1:43.60$33,6601984no race1983Bolivar6Santiago B. SotoThomas S. YoungThomas S. Young1 Mdirt1:46.20$23,7001982Two's A Plenty5Alfredo Smith Jr.Merritt A. BuxtonMrs. A. W. Smith/Charles Largay/M. A. Buxton1 Mdirt1:45.40$19,4701981no race1980Poverty Boy5Martin FrominWilliam A. ColeKaril Vangeloff1 Mdirt1:45.60$20,5651979Great Sound5Walter GuerraMerritt A. BuxtonUniversal Thoroughbred, Inc.1 Mturf1:45.40$20,8351978One Moment5John GiovanniStanley M. HoughA. Destout1 Mdirt1:52.20$21,2401977Lightning Thrust4Gene St. LeonStanley M. HoughStirrup Hill Farm1 M±turf1:45.80$21,7801976Freepet6Ray BroussardJames E. BrackenJ. W. LaCroix1 Mdirt1:53.80$20,7001975Plagiarize4Gene St. LeonReed M. CombestMr. & Mrs. Lewis E. Iandoli1 Mdirt1:45.80$13,8001974Snurb4Gene St. LeonReed M. CombestB.L.T. Stable1 Mdirt1:46.20$14,0401973 Correbtoso6Roger M. DanjeanWayne E. OppermanPeppermint Farm1 Mdirt1:47.80$10,6201972Willmar4Kenny KnappFrank GomezTartan Stable1 Mdirt1:45.20$9,6001971Anchorage4James MoseleyHarry TrotsekL. W. Stellings1 Mdirt1:39.00$6,600

References