Save Hialeah Park - Testimonials

Interview with Tom Durkin, the
famous track announcer, in
Blood-Horse Magazine:
Is there a place in horse racing for Hialeah?

Durkin:
Horse heaven. What a shame to see her just
sitting there. I always thought it would be
perfect as the permanent sight for the
Breeders' Cup....Hialeah was my first big job.
I love that place.

Interview with Barbara Livingston,
the legendary Thoroughbred
Photographer, in Blood-Horse
Magazine:
Other than Saratoga, of course, what are
your favorite tracks to photograph at?

Livingston:
Hialeah was, in my opinion, the most
beautiful track in the country. The fountains,
and metalwork, and reliefs, and
bougainvillea, and Citation statue, and
flamingoes, and gorgeous tree-lined path,
and gates, and...well, you get the picture. I
just hate that it's come upon hard times.

Testimonials

Interview with Tom Durkin, track announcer,
in Blood-Horse Magazine:

Blood-Horse: Is there a place in horse racing
for Hialeah?

Durkin: Horse heaven. What a shame to see
her just sitting there. I always thought it would
be perfect as the permanent sight for the
Breeders' Cup....Hialeah was my first big job. I
love that place.

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Dade Heritage Trust first focused attention on the historic
Hialeah Park Race Course in 1983. Our Preservation
Today magazine featured the beautiful clubhouse and
statue of Triple-Crown winner Citation on the cover.

As a nonprofit historic preservation organization, Dade
Heritage Trust was one of many charities in the 1980s to
benefit from Hialeah Park's annual Day at the Races. The
220 acres of manicured landscaping and elegant
architecture made Hialeah Park the perfect setting for
fabulous social events, including a Dade Heritage Trust
cocktail party fundraiser.

It was when Dade Heritage Trust was working with the
Hialeah Park administration on this event that I had the once
in a lifetime opportunity to "ride at Hialeah."

Vice President John Van Pelt exercised his horse early in
the morning on the track, and when hearing I loved to ride,
invited me to do so as well. When I appeared at the stables
in my Virginia riding breeches and boots, I heard snickers
from the jean-clad stable hands about "little miss prep
school." I was then told I had to keep the horse at a walk ---
no cantering or galloping full speed ahead like in my dreams
-- but ride I did around that glorious track!

Becky Roper Matkov
CEO, Dade Heritage Trust

The Miami Springs Historical Society held a Annual Day at
the races at Hialeah Park. We would all dress up in hats and
1930's period clothes. We would have an elegant luncheon
in the glass box overlooking the tract. Then we would spend
the afternoon betting on the horses. It was so beautiful there
walking the historic wide walkways and staircases.
-- With fond memories,
Yvonne Shonberger

My mother was from Kentucky and with that
background, was a real race horse person.
Every winter, her best friend Arva Ray, for
whom I was named, came down for the
opening of Hialeah. She lived in Louisville
and often invited my mother up for the
Kentucky Derby. In the 1940s, Mother and
Aunt Arva would get all dressed up -- hats,
gloves and maybe even a fur and off they
would go for opening day. My mother's
brother, J. Ed Parker, Jr. was vice president of
a bank in Lexington. His job was to help
manage the horse farms when the owners
were away. Each summer when we visited
Kentucky, he would take me and my brother
and sister to see all the farms -- especially
Calumet Farm because a cousin of ours was
married to owner Warren Wright. Lucille
Parker Wright was often talked about by my
grandfather, J. Ed Parker -- another racing fan.
She had a house on Miami Beach and I
remember taking him over to see her.

So even though I was too young to experience
Hialeah's glory days first hand, I felt its
excitement and was aware of its position of
fame in the racing world.

- Arva Parks
South Florida Historian and Author

Interview with Barbara Livingston, Thoroughbred
Photographer, in Blood-Horse Magazine:

Blood-Horse: Other than Saratoga, of course, what are
your favorite tracks to photograph at?

Livingston: Hialeah was, in my opinion, the most
beautiful track in the country. The fountains, and
metalwork, and reliefs, and bougainvillea, and Citation
statue, flamingoes, and gorgeous tree-lined path, and
gates, and...well, you get the picture. I just hate that it's
come upon hard times.