MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Sept. 28, 2008) – Last month, staff writer Tom Van Riper of Forbes.com identified Miami, Fla. as the “worst city to be a sports fan” based on ticket prices to attend sporting events and concession prices.

His study was limited to the four major sports leagues – the National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball and did not include an assessment of the country’s Thoroughbred horse racetracks, inarguably a great value across the board in terms of admission fees and food prices.

Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens will underscore that notion when it offers a free lunch to customers on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

Fans coming to Calder on Sunday will receive a $10 certificate good for food and beverage that day. And the price of admission is only $3 for the grandstand and $5 for the clubhouse. Plus, these folks have a chance to leave the track with more money than they came in with – that won’t happen at any of the other major sporting events.

On all other days, Calder is still a great value: free admission on weekdays, a free parking section and only $2 for preferred parking and $5 for valet. The track’s two dining rooms also offer a scrumptious all-you-can-eat buffet on weekends for just $19.95 per person.

And for those customers who just have to have their football fix on Sundays, Calder offers the “NFL Sunday Ticket” on DirectTV in four locations at the track. To complement the programming, food and drink specials are available: $2 domestic bottled beer, 50¢ chicken wings, $1 coconut shrimp and $3 nachos and cheese.

Miami the worst city to be sports fan? Not if horse racing is your sport of choice.