HIALEAH PARK, INC.
HIALEAH, FLORIDA

About Hialeah Park & Casino Step back in time to an era of grand celebrations,manicured grounds with picturesque gardens, and 16th Century French Mediterranean…experience Hialeah Park! A South Florida mainstay for over 90 years, Hialeah Park is 200 acres of lush landscape and historic architecture. Known simply as “The World’s Most Beautiful Race Course”, Hialeah Park is eternal, magnificent and iconic, while holding the distinction of being an Audubon Bird Sanctuary with Flamingos on site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The future of this historic property is even more exciting. Plans are underway for a comprehensive development that supports the rich tradition and revitalization of Hialeah Park. The complete restoration of existing amenities and buildings and the development of new entertainment experiences, also includes a state of the art casino – housing 882 slots and 33 poker tables, a full service hotel, a movie theater, and the creation of an outlet shopping village. The vision is to return “The Grand Dame” to her prior glory and, in the process, create a city center for both South Florida residents and visitors from all across the world. We invite you to come experience Hialeah Park Racing & Casino®! Easily accessible by all major highways, we are conveniently located 5 minutes from Miami International Airport, and 10 minutes from South Beach, Downtown Miami, Coral Gables and Doral. Hialeah Park Is Eternal Hialeah Park is eternal, magnificent and historic. It is the world’s most beautiful race course also holding the distinction of being an Audubon Bird Sanctuary and being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Where does one begin when talking about Hialeah Park? Perhaps with the walking ring fashioned after Longchamp in Paris? The balustrades fashioned after the casinos in Monte Carlo? The statue of Citation executed in Florence, Italy, or the hundreds of flamingos in the infield? Hialeah is an institution, an encyclopedia not only encompassing thoroughbred horse racing but history in general. And it all started in 1920 when Missouri cattleman James Bright and aviation pioneer Glenn Curtis began to develop Hialeah by donating land for community use while helping to acquire funds for construction of public buildings, facilities, and, yes – a racetrack. On Jan. 15 of 1925, Hialeah Park opened for thoroughbred racing. Not only did Hialeah include a one-mile dirt track, clubhouse, administration building and 21 stables, but nearby was a jai alai fronton (the first in the U.S.), a dance hall, a roller coaster, and oh, a snake catcher! Because Hialeah was on the edge of the Everglades, it wasn’t unheard of to catch a couple dozen snakes a day near the infield lake. So a snake catcher was hired full time, showing Bright and Curtis left nothing to chance. The buzz was never greater, however, than when the Citation statue was revealed in 1965. Executed in Florence, Italy by fourth generation sculptor Thomas Famiglietti, two years in the making, the statue stands, still proud and glistening, on a a 5,955-pound marble base, in the center of the lily pond by the paddock on the clubhouse side. Only The Best At Hialeah Park So were filmmakers. In 1974, in the Academy Award winning film, “The Godfather: Part II”, director Frances Ford Coppola chose Hialeah Park to signify Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) arrival to Miami from New York. The historic scene takes place with Michael Corleone’s black Cadillac driving past the iconic Citation statue located on the clubhouse side of Hialeah Park. In 1978, Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-award winning film ‘The Champ’ was filmed at Hialeah. In 1988, the movie ‘Let It Ride’ was also filmed at the track. Today, so many people continue to be overcome by Hialeah’s grace and beauty. Even when the track went dark for eight seasons, there was a constant flow of visitors. And when the gates were locked, some of those visitors simply climbed them for a sneak peak. On Nov. 28 of 2009, Hialeah began yet another new era with the introduction of quarter horse racing. In 2013, Hollywood came knocking again to film two episodes of the hit television show Magic City. She is still celebrated, still championed, and still eternal. Phase I: Hialeah Park Casino John J. Brunetti’s vision for Hialeah’s rebirth came with the opening of the state of the art casino on August 14, 2013 which provided the impetus for the revitalization of the entire 200 acre property. Located in what was the north grandstand, the casino features over 800 Las Vegas style slot machines, electronic roulette and blackjack. Several restaurants and cocktail lounges complete the first floor of the development. On the second floor is South Florida’s most popular poker room. It’s success prompted the construction of the private VIP King’s Court to accommodate the large crowds attracted by the lucrative poker tournaments. Mr. Brunetti’s plan to restore Hialeah’s historic buildings and verdant gardens is well underway with the $2.6 million replacement of the roof. The renovated Citation and Nashua ballrooms replete with Italian marble floors located on the third floor of the clubhouse were unveiled on December 31, 2013—Hialeah Park’s Inaugural New Year’s Eve ball. The popular Flamingo Terrace has also had a roof added to it and has been enhanced with a new bar and furnishings. Bringing back horse racing and the creation of the casino is just the beginning. Plans call for making Hialeah Park an entertainment and shopping destination for all of the world. Soon will come a museum exhibiting the history of horse racing in south Florida, the creation of a trendy entertainment district anchored by a resort and spa hotel, office building and shopping center that will include restaurants, banks and other commercial ventures. And this is only the beginning—stay tuned. Important Dates In Hialeah Park History 1920 Missouri cattleman James Bright and aviation pioneer Glenn Curtis donate land for community use and help acquire building funds for construction of public buildings, facilities and racetrack.