01/11/2012 11:44PM

Hialeah Park (cont.) - 2009, during the track's renovation for reopening

By Barbara Livingston
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Hialeah Park photo album: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Below, a variety pack of images of the incredible Hialeah Park from 2009 - during the time period when the historic track was being renovated for reopening.

Above/below:  Citation, looking as good as ever and, below, a flamingo - with spiderwebs - in the Flamingo Fountain. 

Above:  A changes' board in the grandstand, seemingly frozen in time, lists changes at Hialeah and simulcast track Belmont Park on May 22, 2001.  Among the jockey changes were S. Madrid and D. Suckie. That was the last day that Hialeah held Thoroughbred racing.

 

Above:  The Flamingo Fountain, unveiled in 1954, had metal plaques around the base denoting the Flamingo winners.  The spots are still quite visible.

Above:  Sunny Jim Lane, a stunning horse path which used to be the main way from the barn area to the paddock/racetrack.  

Above:  Hialeah's magnificent - and very bizarre-looking - flamingos.

Photographs of Hialeah Park from early 2010, during the racetrack's first season: http://www.drf.com/blogs/hialeah-park-cont-photo-album-2010

Alysse Jacobs' amazing photographs of Hialeah Park during its dormancy, in 2008.  Between the images and the music, this definitely brings tears to my eyes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N87r3XeQDwA

Hialeah Park photo album: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Joyce Patci 10 months ago
Very poignant photos Barbara. The grandeur still shows, even through the cobwebs & peeling paint. Does anyone know what happened to the metal plaques from the flamingo fountain? It would be very sad if they were lost or stolen. Thanks for shring these with us!
Steve Wolfson, Sr. 10 months ago
What great pictures! Ms. Livingston has really brought back the Golden Era of Racing. Too many memories to mention, though some come immediately to mind: seeing MR. PROSPECTOR break his maiden; watching DRUMTOP upset the boys, including GLEAMING, in Turf Cup; seeing the great BUCKPASSER get upset by ABE'S HOPE in the "Chicken Flamingo"; seeing RAISE A NATIVE begin his illustrious, but all-too-brief career; being around great gentleman jockeys John L. Rotz and Braulio Baeza, Don Brumfield, Earlie Fires, etc. and trainers Burley Parke, Jimmy Jones, Horatio Luro, Walter Kelley, etc.; Saturday afternoons at the races with my parents; all the weekend mornings my brothers Marty & Gary, and I would join our dad to watch the Harbor View Farm horses go to the track for workouts, followed by breakfast with Mr. Parke, hanging on his every sage word, in the track kitchen next to the Calumet barn; eventually competing in the big time with our own Happy Valley horses like EMINENCY & PHAEDRA; etc., etc., etc. >
Valerie Sciaretta 10 months ago
When I was a teenager I worked there as an exercise girl, then later I rode there as a jockey. I have been to at least 30 tracks and it is by far the most ornate and gorgeous. More than that its about a time when our country was great and people lived for their art, like the art of racing before racing to the path it has taken today.........never forget.......Viva Hialeah!
hialeah 10 months ago
Parts were sad...like where we used to park our car in the NE parking lot had been taken over by a car dealer...so that you couldn't walk thru the tunnel that went under the 3F chute - your picture of the 1/4 pole brings that back. But it other areas I had more access. Watched one race - from my car - on the backstretch near the 1/2 mile pole. That never could have happened in the glory days. And I walked Sunny Jim Lane with nary a look askance...again, never would have happened years earlier. It was just different, in the sense, that you knew what was going to come down and wanted to remember everything. Here is hoping that the business side(of the sport) gets it all together and allows a place of such history and beauty to at least continue on. >
b christensen 10 months ago
Visited Hialeah only one time in the mid eighties. Never been to a better racetrack in my life. The photo set part two made me want to cry. I can still remember how pristine everything was. Tributes to the greats of the past seemed to be everywhere. If the stars align for the return to the glorious past of horse racing, I can't think of a better place than the return to grace of Hialeah.
hialeah 10 months ago
Back in 2001 it was well known that Hialeah Park would soon close. I planned a trip around the Florida Derby and opening week at my beloved Hialeah. Was able to see some good races - Jerry Bailey came in to win on Del Mar Show for Bill Mott and Mike Smith rode one day - but it was sad to see how this truly beautiful track had fallen on hard times. The ax fell shortly after. So nice to see them back up and running. And so nice to see your lovely pictures that document it all so well:). >