Hialeah Park Race Track facts for kids
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Hialeah Park, c. 1930
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| Location | 2200 E 4th Avenue Hialeah, Florida |
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| Owned by | John Brunetti |
| Date opened | 1922, 2013 (reopening) |
| Race type | Quarter Horse |
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Hialeah Park Race Track
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 Location in Miami
Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| NRHP reference No. | 79000664 (1979) 88003477 (1988) |
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| Designated NRHP | March 5, 1979 January 12, 1988 (eligible as NHL) |
Hialeah Park Race Track, often called Hialeah Park, is a famous and historic place in Hialeah, Florida. It's a large area, about 40 city blocks, in the middle-east part of Hialeah. This special park was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1979. You can even get there by train using the Miami Metrorail at Hialeah Station.
Contents
Discovering Hialeah Park's Early Days
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Hialeah Park is one of the oldest fun places in southern Florida. It first opened in 1922. An aviation pioneer named Glenn Curtiss and his partner, James H. Bright, started it. They were developing the town of Hialeah, Florida at the time.
At first, Hialeah Park was a track for greyhound dog races. Then, in 1925, the Miami Jockey Club started horse racing there. A big hurricane in 1926 badly damaged the park.
Rebuilding and New Beginnings
In 1930, a horseman from Philadelphia, Joseph E. Widener, bought the park. He worked with another horseman, Col. Edward R. Bradley, to rebuild it. They hired an architect named Lester W. Geisler. He designed a brand new grandstand and clubhouse. These buildings looked like they were from the Renaissance period.
The park also got beautiful gardens with local plants and animals. Widener even put flamingos in a lake in the middle of the track!
Hialeah Park: A World-Famous Track
Hialeah Park officially reopened on January 14, 1932. People called it one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world. It was the first place in America to use a special machine called an Australian totalisator for betting.
Home of the Flamingos
The park became very famous for its flocks of flamingos. Because of this, the Audubon Society officially made Hialeah Park a safe place for American Flamingos. It's a wonderful sight to see these pink birds!
Innovations in Horse Racing
On January 16, 1936, Hialeah Park made history again. It was the first horse racing track to use a photo-finish camera. This camera helped judges see exactly which horse crossed the finish line first. It made race results much more accurate.
Hialeah Park in Movies
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Hialeah Park has been a setting for several movies.
- In 1987, the horse-racing movie Let It Ride filmed many scenes there. It starred Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, and Jennifer Tilly.
- The movie Public Enemies also featured Hialeah Park.
- The Champ (1979) filmed scenes at the park on Flamingo Day in 1978.
Challenges and Reopening
Hialeah Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1988, it was recognized as eligible to become a National Historic Landmark.
In 2001, Hialeah Park stopped hosting horse races. This happened because of a change in state law. The park's owner, John Brunetti, then closed it to the public. The last thoroughbred horse race was won by a filly named Cheeky Miss on May 22, 2001.
Famous Races Held at Hialeah
Even though it closed for a while, Hialeah Park was known for important races. These included the Flamingo Stakes, which was a key race for young horses hoping to compete in the Kentucky Derby. Another major race was the Widener Handicap, for older horses.
A New Chapter for Hialeah Park
In 2004, Hialeah Park lost its permit for thoroughbred racing. This was because it hadn't held races for two years. The stables were taken down in 2007, but most of the park's buildings stayed.
In 2009, good news arrived! The owner, John Brunetti, got a new racing permit. Plans began for a big renovation and new developments, including a casino. A restoration project started in mid-2009.
Quarter Horse Racing and Casino
On May 7, 2009, a deal was made that allowed Hialeah Park to have slot machines and Quarter Horse races. The historic racetrack reopened on November 28, 2009, but only for quarter horse races. Slot machines were added in January 2010.
A part of the park was restored, but a full transformation was planned. This plan included building a hotel, restaurants, more casinos, stores, and a theater. People were concerned about keeping Hialeah Park's historical status during these big changes.
On August 14, 2013, a new casino officially opened at Hialeah Park. Today, Hialeah Park continues to be a vibrant place with racing and entertainment.
See also
In Spanish: Hialeah Park Race Track para niños
- List of casinos in Florida
