Hialeah Park is a historic landmark and sports icon where horse history racing was made. The racetrack was opened in 1922 when Florida was becoming a popular tourist destination by aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss and his partner, Missouri cattleman James H. Bright, as part of their development of the town of Hialeah incorporated in 1921. They wanted to create a winter attraction to lure south the winter tourists of Palm Beach. Hialeah Park covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on March 2, 1979.
Hialeah Park launched as a greyhound racing track operated by the Miami Kennel Club. The Miami Jockey Club opened Hialeah's Thoroughbred horse racing track on January 25, 1925 with a small grandstand for 5,000 people. In 1930, industrialist Joe Widener purchased Hialeah Park. He and his partner Col. Edward R. Bradley invested millions in renovations. Widener and architect Lester Geisler traveled racetracks throughout Europe and North America for design inspiration. The tree-lined paths and sweeping staircases were designed after Ascot and Deauville. The lines of the administration building were taken from a chateau in France. The walking ring from Longchamp, the tunnel leading to the track from Epsom Downs, and the terraces and balustrades from a casino visited in Monte Carlo. Hialeah Park was widely considered the most beautiful racetrack in the world. Real flamingos were imported from Cuba in 1931 by Widener to inhabit the lake in the track's infield and they can still be seen residing on a certified Audubon Bird Sanctuary island today.
Seabiscuit made his racing debut at Hialeah Park in 1935. Other famous horses that raced here include Forego, Seattle Slew, John Henry, Citation, Spectacular Bid, Northern Dancer, Buckpasser, Carry Back, Bold Ruler, and War Admiral. On January 16, 1936, Hialeah Park became the first thoroughbred horse racing venue to install a photo-finish camera, revolutionizing the accuracy of race results in the sport.
Countless numbers of dignitaries and celebrities have visited this race track. Famous visitors included Sinatra, Crosby, Jolson, Durante, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Princess Grace of Monaco, Glenn Ford, Elizabeth Taylor, George Raft, Angie Dickinson, John Philip Sousa, Will Rogers, Joe DiMaggio, and Joe and Rose Kennedy. During a visit after WWII, Winston Churchill declared it extraordinary while Presidents Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and John Kennedy also attended races here.
Diane Crump became the first female to ride at a major track here and Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons wintered here. National Museum of Racing. Hall of Fame Trainer Woody Stephens was a fixture at 'Barn M' each winter for 50 years. Trainers extraordinaire Ben and Jimmy Jones of Calumet Farm fame began the careers of champions at Hialeah Park.
Visitors came to see the best races in the country as they dined in the Nashua Room and drank on the Flamingo Terrace in the Flamingo Pavilion added by Eugene Mori who purchased the track in the 1960's. Added to the park was the famous flamingo fountain built by Moti in 1961 and in 1965, the statue of Citation, created by the Italian sculptor Thomas Famiglietti.
In 1977 Hialeah Park was acquired by breeder and developer John J. Brunetti Sr. who dedicated himself to the preservation and restoration of the legendary racetrack. In 2001, Hialeah Park stopped hosting racing after a change in state law kept it from having exclusive dates in its competition with Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course. Consequently, owner John Brunetti closed Hialeah Park to the public. The filly Cheeky Miss won the last thoroughbred race run at Hialeah on May 22, 2001. In 2004, the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering revoked Hialeah's thoroughbred permit because it did not hold races for the previous two years. As of 2013, its facilities remain intact except for the stables, which were demolished in early 2007. In 2006, the abandoned Hialeah Park site was considered to be a possible location for a new Florida Marlins Ballpark. On August 14, 2013, Brunetti opened a new casino at Hialeah Park in partnership with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Future development of the park has to be weighed against ruining Hialeah Park's potential of being named a National Historic Landmark.
Hialeah Park has a gothic beauty with its peeling paint, rust, and a mostly empty grandstand and clubhouse. As a history lover I had so much fun exploring this landmark that is like a trip back in time. On the first floor you can see historic photos including one of Winston Churchill during his visit and walls dedicated to famous jockey's like Woody's Wall. Here and there you can still the vestiges of grandeur that once made Hialeah Park the grand dame of racing.
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