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Hialeah Park Race Track
Categories: Active Life, Local Flavor, Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
2200 E 4th AveHialeah, FL 33013
(305) 885-8000
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
2 reviews for Hialeah Park Race Track
I might be a little biased in my rating of this jewel in Hialeah but that is only because I have some great memories and live a couple blocks away. Hialeah Park is historic site that originally opened in 1921. Driving or like I do, biking into the grounds is like taking a trip back in time. The designers arched the drive into the park so that you do not see the grandstand until the very end. The drive itself is bordered by huge palm trees and other flowers and trees on both sides . It has always reminded me of the drive into Disney World in the sense that you are leaving the outside world and entering a new one.
Fast Fact - Winston Churchill watched the races here after WW II
The grandstand is designed in the in a Renaissance style that once made it one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world and will continue to be until it's no longer standing. Imagine Vizcaya as racetrack and you will get a pretty good picture of what I'm talking about.
Recently, weddings, and quinces have given the old girl some purpose. Quinceaneras in the know will take their pictures here and tell those that don't know that they went to an Italian villa for their pics. The grounds have banquet halls so you could have a party here and in fact my Homecoming for Hialeah High was held here(Ah the memories). My grandmother once owned a cafeteria across the street from the stables (which have been knocked down) so for a long time she was an insider at the track and taught me how to gamble at a very young age. I remember being able to go to the center of the track and feeding the famous flamingoes. I did not know then how cool of an experience I was having.
Unfortunatly, the park could not keep up with Gulfstream and Calder and has been closed down for a while now. There is a group that is trying to save it http://www.savehialeah.../ If you are able to make your way into Hialeah, try to bribe the security guard (a twenty spot can go a long way now a days or you can try to convince him that you might have an event there in the future and want to check it out) to let you see the grounds and I'm sure you will come away impressed.
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This is supposed to be one of the remaining locations where you can spot a free-roaming flocks of flamingos! Unfortunately the gates were closed and we couldn't check it out. Very uninviting neighborhood btw. I also read that the race track has been closed for years. Doh!
