There was a full house as more than 268 participants (120 more than last year) participated in the sold-out event which netted $40,000 more than the inaugural. The evening kicked-off with a VIP welcome reception with a silent auction and raffle featuring autographed sports memorabilia, jewelry, hotel stays and more.

“After last year’s success, we really wanted to hit another home run this year,” said Calder’s President Austin Miller. “Jeff and [his wife] Cindy, along with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation staff, helped us to take an already amazing event and make it even better...and the proof is in the numbers.”

Each table at Calder’s Studz Poker Club featured a sports celebrity who was paired with players at all levels as they tested their poker faces and challenged their skills. Sports celebrities included Cliff Floyd (Marlins), Cookie Rojas (Marlins), Jim Crash Jenson (Dolphins), Ed Jovanovski (Panthers), Ricky Nolasco (Marlins), Sean Hill (Dolphins), Shawn Wooden (Dolphins), Tony Nathan (Dolphins) and Preston Wilson (Marlins).

“The clubhouse is my proudest accomplishment in South Florida, my legacy, because it’s real life,” said Conine, a legendary Marlins baseball player and current Marlins broadcaster on Fox Sports Net Florida. “Being a professional athlete brings notoriety, but nothing we do between the lines can compare to helping people when they really need it.”

Players battled it out for the top prize -- a $10,000 seat to the 2013 World Series of Poker. Other prizes included cash, a $10,000 poker-themed Corum men’s watch, a 5-day trip to Costa Rica and a 3-day, 2-night stay at the Clevelander Hotel.

• The Conine All-Star Golf Classic at The Club at Emerald Hills in Hollywood is Jan. 21, 2013. Calder Casino & Race Course is the title sponsor for that 19th annual event.

Triathlon

Miami’s Manuel Huerta was 36th at the sprint-distance Cancun ITU Triathlon World Cup in Cancun, Mexico, the final stop on the 2012 ITU World Cup circuit. Huerta, a U.S. Olympian, completed the 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run in 55 minutes 58 seconds.

Cycling

Bicyclists are to explore the Florida Keys and pedal one of America’s most scenic highways during the seven-night, 200-mile BubbaFest Bike Tour Nov. 3-10.

Led by retired police sergeant and biking enthusiast Bubba Barron, the adventure takes cycling fans from Key Largo to Key West and back along the Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1) that connects the Keys with each other and the Florida mainland.

Incorporating 42 bridges and long vistas of breathtaking open water, the highway was designated an All-American Road in 2009, the highest recognition possible under the National Scenic Byways program.

BubbaFest begins in Key Largo on Nov. 3 with registration at the Hampton Inn at Manatee Bay, 102400 Overseas Hwy., followed by a welcome reception and beachside dinner.

The fee is $675 per rider, which includes six nights at beachside campgrounds, seven breakfasts and five dinners, a private open-air trolley tour of Key West, a farewell dinner dance and services of a baggage truck and support vehicle. Motel lodging is available for an additional fee.

Event information www.bubbafestbiketours.com.

Fishing

The annual Kids Fishing Challenge is Nov. 3 at Tropical Park in Miami. About 300 kids participate in the fishing tournament at the lake. Each receive a rod & reel, bait, tackle box, T-shirt and lunch. Visit www.cblbc.com and click on Event Info & Gallery.

Key Largo Bridge Run

Racers can enjoy a spectacular foot race with panoramic views of the Upper Keys and the eastern edges of the Florida Everglades at the fourth annual Key Largo Bridge Run on Nov.10.

Runners from Canada and 21 American states are among more than 310 participants already registered. The out-and-back 10k, half marathon and 5k run/walk typically entices nearly 900 participants of all ages.

The USA Track & Field certified course crosses the 65-foot-high, 1.25-mile-long Jewfish Creek Bridge. Racers occupy the northbound lanes of the bridge and the southern portion of the 18-Mile Stretch, a section of the Overseas Highway that connects mainland South Florida with Key Largo.

The event offers a free Health and Fitness Expo featuring osteoporosis screenings for women. The expo is noon to 6 p.m. Nov.9 at the Key Largo Holiday Inn at mile marker (MM) 100.

From noon to 9 p.m., participants can pick up race packets. Race organizers are going green by providing virtual race bags that include value-added offers, exclusive discounts and educational information. The virtual goody bags are to be delivered to each participant’s email inbox within two weeks of the race.

A traditional Friday night spaghetti dinner is at DiGiorgio’s Café Largo, MM 100 bayside, between 4:30 and 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, available at the expo.

Race entry fees are $35 per person for the 5k, $50 per person for the 10k and $70 for the half marathon through Nov. 4. Participants age 17 and younger pay $12. Runners whose registrations are received on or before Oct. 14 get a $5 discount. Online registration is available through Nov. 8. The first 1,000 race registrants receive a free T-shirt.

Event proceeds benefit local charities including the Key Largo Bridge Run Scholarship Fund, Key Largo Baptist Church, Island Christian School and Active Disabled Americans. Event information www.keylargobridgerun.com.

Ironman 70.3

The City Bikes Ironman 70.3 Miami is Oct. 28, starting at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. Registration is underway. http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1995048.

The event supports the Blazeman Foundation for ALS. Through this partnership, athletes who are participating in the race can make a contribution to the foundation when registering. The Blazeman Foundation will also be featured at the EXPO. To find out more about the Blazeman Foundation for ALS, visit www.waronals.com.

Florida Senior Games

Registration is open for the 2012 Florida International Senior Games & State Championships. They are Dec. 1-9 in Polk County and are a qualifier for the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland in the summer 2013.

The Games offer 23 sports. Softball and the 10K Road Race are in November. Entry fees vary, and registration deadlines vary by sport.

The easiest way for athletes to register is online at www.flasports.com. Also available on www.flasports.com are PDF documents athletes can print and mail to the Florida Sports Foundation.

Football program

Throughout the 2012 high school football season, Sports Illustrated will profile 10 programs from across the United States, selected for having overcome obstacles that include dilapidated facilities, crime-ridden communities, severe funding deficits and disasters, both personal and natural.

SI editors have selected nine of the schools, and SI and POWERADE have launched a nationwide search for the 10th school that has persevered through hardship. The 10 programs will be unveiled throughout the season as a part of one of the largest high school football editorial initiatives in Sports Illustrated’s history.

Players, coaches, parents, teachers, classmates and fans can log on to www.Facebook.com/SportsIllustrated to enter an Underdog team in their community. Submissions will be accepted through Oct. 23 after which a 10th finalist school will be selected. Fans can vote for which team receives the grand prize, a $25,000 program grant and a trip to New York City and SI’s annual “Sportsman of the Year” awards gala.

Miami Lady Express basketball

The Miami Lady Express girls’ basketball team needs funding to continue competing in tournaments throughout the United States. The coaches volunteered to train the girls, giving them something positive to do, and the parents have been fundraising.

Travel costs, food, tournament fees and lodging are very expensive for these girls. They practice at the Keys Gate Gym in Florida City and South Dade High School where their coaches teach. Contact Coach Larry Hicks at 786-301-2577.

Pace basketball clinic

Monsignor Pace Junior Spartans Basketball Clinic, a developmental clinic, is Saturdays through Nov. 3. The sessions are open to students in the fourth through seventh grades. Pace coaching staff provides instruction at Monsignor Edward Pace High School, 15600 NW 32nd Ave., Opa-locka. Cost $125. For times and info, call 305-450-9283.

Tamiami basketball

The Thunder Academy Winter Youth Basketball League is the first week of November through Jan. 31 at the Tamiami Gym. Each team will have two practices and one game per week, and all practices and games will be inside the gym.

The goal of the Thunder Winter League is to teach fundamentals and principles of the game. The games will remain competitive and offer an opportunity to work in stations and learn from different coaches and coaching methods.

The cost is $250 and includes three sessions per week, uniform, division photo, drawstring bag, water bottle and wristband. Visit www.YouthBasketballMiami.com or contact Coach Rob at CoachRobCastillo@gmail.com.

Miami basketball

Miami Basketball Fall League begins Oct. 15. Registration is open to individuals or teams.

Cost is $225. Price includes eight games plus playoffs, uniform and trophies.

Games are at the South Miami Community Center Indoor Gym. Ages range from 5-16. Visit www.miamibasketball.net.

For more information, call Eddie at 305-439-9240 or Andre at 786-205-5198. Email eddie_vidal@yahoo.com or andre@miamibasketball.net.

Youth Rugby South Miami

The Miami Rugby Youth Division, boys age 6-18, practices 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Murray Park and Wednesdays at Palmer Park, 6120 SW 67th Ave., South Miami. Call 305-400-0134, ext. 101. Visiti www.miamirugbykids.com.

Marlins Tours

The Miami Marlins offer behind the scenes tours of Marlins Park. The tours are open to the public on non-event days for $10 a person.

The tour includes visits to the field (behind home plate), home clubhouse, home batting cage area and Diamond Club, Promenade Level featuring the art in the facility, the bobblehead museum and the premium areas including the Suites.

Tours operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except when the Marlins play at home or when other major events are scheduled at Marlins Park. Group tours, accommodating between 10 and 25 people, are available by appointment.

For information, fans can call 1-877-MARLINS or e-mail tours@marlins.com. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows on Felo Ramirez Drive (NW 6 Street between NW 14 Avenue and NW 15 Avenue) and are for the time and date specified.

Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

HOF baseball

Hall Of Fame Baseball is sponsoring travel baseball teams for 11-12, 13-14, 15-18 (high school) for the fall season.

Hall Of Fame Coach Rich Hofman and his staff will coach the teams which will practice and play in tournaments and leagues. Register for a tryout at www.hofball.net or call David Hofman at 954-804-5600 or Ed Tisdale at 803-463-2591.

Tennis

USTA Florida’s four-stop ’Me Gusta El Tenis’ tour will hit the Greater Miami-area, spotlighting the popularity of tennis in the Hispanic community in South Florida.

Hispanic communities can celebrate families playing tennis together at the four events, which will feature the 10 and Under Tennis short court format for learning the game.

Oct. 20-21: Gables Hispanic Festival, Coral Gables.

Nov. 11: Founders Day Festival, Aventura.

Visit http://www.ustamiami.com/.

Participants registering will be entered into a drawing to win four tickets to either the 2013 Sony Open men’s and women’s pro tennis tournament on Key Biscayne or the 2013 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships men’s pro event in Delray Beach.

The Gables Hispanic Festival is organized by the Gables Hispanic Cultural Foundation, a not-for-profit organization for charitable and educational purposes, including the undertaking of programs and activities designed to enhance the cultural Heritage and social well-being of families, children and youth of Miami-Dade County.

“We are looking forward to reaching out to the roughly 70 percent of Florida Hispanic players who are in the Miami area,” said USTA Florida Tennis Program Coordinator for the Miami area Cathy Nordlund. “Area pros will be out at the events, where parents can ask questions about local programming for kids and adults, and families can play the 10 and Under Tennis format together.”

Tennis participation numbers in Florida for small children of all demographics have increased exponentially since the introduction of the 10 and Under Tennis format. 10 and Under Tennis is designed for children, featuring smaller court sizes, racquet sizes, foam and decompressed balls, a simple scoring system, and net heights adjusted to ease kids into the sport.

Similar mini-tennis formats have long been popular in Europe, where current stars such as Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters first learned the game with age-adjusted racquets, balls and court sizes. To see a video of 10 and Under Tennis in action go to: http://10andundertennis.com.

For information on USTA Florida Hispanic community events, go to USTA Florida’s Spanish language website at www.ustaflorida.com/espanol. For specific information regarding Miami-area events contact Cathy Nordlund at nordlund@florida.usta.com.

Tennis classes, programs

Tennis classes and programs for all ages are at the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center at Sans Souci, 1795 Sans Souci Blvd., North Miami. Call for information on group lessons, annual passes, court rates and private lessons. Tennis pro is Ross Dubins. Call 305-893-7130.

Rebelle volleyball

Rebelle Athletics Club offers girls’ volleyball tryouts at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School, 4949 NE 2nd Ave.

The volleyball club, a member of the United States Volleyball Association, is under the direction of Mandi Tate, Dee Rey and former Barry University player Kelly Dantas. They are former coaches with South Florida Volleyball Club and currently coach at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School in Biscayne Bay.

Rebelle Athletics is dedicated to providing developmental and participatory athletic sports programs beginning at the youth development level. It offers a progression of sports activities for persons of all ages, races and creeds. It strives to enhance the physical, mental and moral development of amateur athletes at all levels, promoting sportsmanship and active citizenship.

Visit www.rebelleathletics.com.

Soccer

South Kendall Sun Blazers (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Miami Dade Soccer League (miami-dadesoccer.com) at Three Lakes Park, 13375 SW 136 St. (786-488-5216).

Soccer 5 (ussoccer5.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (1-888-575-2976).

Club Atletico De Miami (camsoccer.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (305-764-5783).

Soccer Academy of the Americas (socceraa.com) at Tamiami Park, 11201 SW 24 St. (786-486-3804)

Pinecrest Premier Soccer (pinecrestpremier.com) at Deerwood Bonita Lakes, 11511 S. Dixie Hwy. (305-255-3422).

Optimist Club of Westchester (tropicalsoccer.org) at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St. (786-370-4222).

Coral Estates Soccer Club (coralestatessoccer.org) at Coral Estates Park, 1411 SW 97 Ave. (305-279-2328)

South Kendall Soccer Club (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Southern Soccer Coalition-AYSO (kendallsoccer.com) at Millers Pond Park, 13350 SW 47 St. and Westwind Lakes Park, 6805 SW 152 Ave. (305-965-0083).

Muscle Milk Grant Program

CytoSport, the largest sports nutrition company in the United States and maker of Muscle Milk, announced the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program which will provide up to $250,000 in grants to help rebuild and revitalize high school athletic programs around the country.

Submissions for high school programs will be accepted on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk now through Nov. 30.

“High school athletic programs are critical to the overall development of student-athletes, and we are dedicated to helping them succeed,” CytoSport Chief Marketing Officer Nikki Brown said. “The Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program is a great way we can provide financial resources to programs in need in local communities around the country.”

Grants will be awarded up to $25,000 per submission to programs that show a financial hardship outlined in the application process. Applicants must be at least 14-years-old and can nominate the high school of their choice on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk where they will be required to submit a written statement outlining their program’s needs, provide photos that support their request and will have the option to upload a video link to help further tell their story.

Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30 and recipient programs will be selected in January 2013.

In conjunction with the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, Muscle Milk will also launch limited time packaging that includes a red, white and blue theme. A portion of sales from the patriotic packaging will go toward funding the Recovery Grant Program.

For information on the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, visit www.facebook.com/musclemilk.

Got Milk

The National Milk Mustache “got milk?” campaign launched the call for entries for the 15th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards.

The SAMMY scholarship recognizes 25 student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, community service, leadership and who fuel their daily success with milk.

Milk Mustache celebrity judges will help select 25 winners from across the country who will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, an awards ceremony at Walt Disney World and an opportunity to appear in their own special Milk Mustache ad.

For complete contest rules and applications log onto facebook.com/MilkMustache where visitors can also learn more about the exclusive SAMMY awards weekend and view behind the scenes footage.

Health program

Stand Up! For Those Who Can’t, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children, families and communities through (w)holistic programs in education, culture and the arts, and as fiscal agent for the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative, has received a $50,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to implement “Sunshine Fit for Tots,” an obesity-prevention program developed by SCWC for 3-year-old children.

“One in five preschool-age children in the United States are overweight or obese. We recognize the need to start prevention at the earliest age possible to promote lifelong habits of health and wellness,” said Mary Rae Smith, president and founder of SCWC. “We want to bend the curve on childhood obesity and are grateful to the Aetna Foundation for this opportunity to enhance obesity prevention through exercise and nutrition programming.”

Through March 2013, 60 children from four early childhood centers in Miami-Dade will receive nutritional education and obesity-prevention activities through art classes and dance lessons. The centers selected to receive the program are Fantasyland Learning Center in Westchester; Happy Kids in Miami Beach; Happy Children of Overtown; and Alberto’s Dream Childcare in North Miami.

“We thank the Aetna Foundation for awarding us this grant,” said Jeannette Egozi, president of SUFTWC. “In the United States, low-income families are the most affected by the alarming obesity trend. With these funds we can teach children how to eat healthfully and be physically active throughout their lives.”

For information about “Sunshine Fit for Tots” call the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative at 305-807-5229 or Stand Up! at 305-864-5237, e-mail jeannette@ecqc.biz.

Jai-Alai

Jai-alai is open to anyone, age 10 to 80.

With a rubber ball and cestas, the amateur jai-alai facility is at 1935 NE 150th St. in North Miami, near FIU’s north campus.

It is indoors, air-conditioned and open to all. Contact Luis at 305-389-2313 or Bob at 786-556-3574.

More Jai-Alai

Who said you have to be a male to play Jai Alai? Just as many females play the sport in Spain, France and Mexico, and gals can play it in South Florida at an amateur indoor air-conditioned fronton.

There are also leagues for males and children. Rubber or plastic balls used with free lessons by former pros. Cestas and balls also provided free with a nominal court fee.

Open everyday. Email admanUSA@aol.com or call Brucio 786-629-5428. The American Amateur Jai-Alai Academy is a not-for-profit organization.

CB Sports Leagues

CB Sports Club offers Youth Basketball, Flag Football, Youth Soccer, Adult Soccer and Adult Basketball. Visit cbsportsclub.com. Call 786-273-5639.

Physically Challenged

Miami-Dade Parks welcomes children with disabilities in its youth leagues. If you need accommodations to participate, call 305-735-7847 (V/TDD).