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     For years after Hialeah opened in 1925, it attracted plenty of cash to South Florida, much of it betting money. Track operator Joseph Widener also supplied dough to county officials and local police were ordered to look the other way; state officials did likewise because they deemed it a local issue.

     In 1931, Florida made betting on the horses legal. Then Tropical for years battled Hialeah for the coveted winter racing dates and lost -- just like Hialeah has done with Gulfstream Park in recent years.

     For much of its four decades, Tropical’s meeting preceded Hialeah’s, from mid-November to early January. But when Calder Race Course opened in 1971, Tropical’s days were numbered.

     “It was a speed track with a real short stretch,” recalled former jockey Jesse Parsons, who rode at Tropical Park in the 1950s.

     “I don’t know anybody who didn’t like Tropical,” said the mutuels clerk usually assigned to the press box at all three South Florida tracks. “It was a friendly little track. It was a nice, small family place.”

     Jack Wilson, who retired this year after supplying capsule descriptions of how horses performed below the race charts in The Daily Racing Form, witnessed the most unusual incident at Tropical. He wrote about a race in January, 1969:
“Hans II ran over an alligator while saving ground at the first turn, split horses to take over leaving the far turn and, after dropping over, drew off with authority. A foul claim against the winner by the rider of Swamp Rabbit, for alleged interference leaving the far turn, was not allowed. Swamp Rabbit went over the alligator at the first turn...”

     “I’ve seen some strange things (during 42 years),” he told a South Florida sports writer, “but nothing like that.”

     Now you know why it’s called the Tropical at Calder meeting. Calder got the racing permit after Tropical got the gate.

     This month Tropical the park is transformed into Santa’s Enchanted Village. The holiday theme park, located at Bird Road off the Palmetto Express, is open for a price to adults and kids through Jan. 12.

     It plays host to just about every type of event -- except those having to do with horses. Ironic, isn’t it.

     Today’s picks: In the third race, Close Shave has top Beyer speed figures in last three outings, turns back to six furlongs and Roger Velez sticks. In the fourth, the day’s best bet Vindictive has top Beyers in last three races and is 2-3-1 of 6 at Calder with Larry Saumell aboard. In the fifth, Huge drops back to winning level. In the eighth, Steady Sammy is 3 for 3 on Calder’s main track and Eibar Coa can get him home in front. In the 11th, Ten Carats looks like the winner after monster victory at Aqueduct and Joe Bravo is a plus.

     Tropical’s 2-year-old corner: Favored juveniles through Friday won 38 of 102 races, 37 percent, and finished second 20 percent. First or second choices won 57 percent.