Flamingo Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Flamingo Stakes was an American
Thoroughbred horse race
for three-year-olds held annually in March at the Hialeah Park Race Track
in Hialeah, Florida
. Run over a distance of nine furlongs, the inaugural race took place in 1926 at the Tampa, Florida
racetrack. Until 1937 it was known as the Florida Derby.
Run in March, at one time the Flamingo Stakes was an important early prep race for the Kentucky Derby
. A Grade I
race until 1989, it drew some of the top East Coast
colts
including a number of future National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
rs. In 1948, Citation
won the Flamingo Stakes under regular jockey Al Snider
. Six days later Snider drowned while out fishing in the Florida Keys
and Eddie Arcaro
would replace him on Citation, going on to win the U.S. Triple Crown.
The Hialeah Park racetrack ran into financial problems and the facility ceased operations with the last Flamingo Stakes run in 2001.
Note:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
for three-year-olds held annually in March at the Hialeah Park Race Track
Hialeah Park Race Track
The Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
in Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
. Run over a distance of nine furlongs, the inaugural race took place in 1926 at the Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
racetrack. Until 1937 it was known as the Florida Derby.
Run in March, at one time the Flamingo Stakes was an important early prep race for the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
. A Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
race until 1989, it drew some of the top East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
colts
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
including a number of future National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
rs. In 1948, Citation
Citation (horse)
Citation was the eighth American Triple Crown winner, and one of three major North American Thoroughbreds to win at least 16 consecutive races in major stakes race competition...
won the Flamingo Stakes under regular jockey Al Snider
Albert Snider (jockey)
Albert Snider was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Al Snider rode at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and Chicago's Arlington Park in 1940 and 1941. Among his significant wins were the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes and the Stars and Stripes Handicap. In his best finish...
. Six days later Snider drowned while out fishing in the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
and Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro
George Edward Arcaro , known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice...
would replace him on Citation, going on to win the U.S. Triple Crown.
The Hialeah Park racetrack ran into financial problems and the facility ceased operations with the last Flamingo Stakes run in 2001.
Past winners
Note:
- 1985 - Chief's Crown disqualified from first to second
- 1968 - Iron Ruler disqualified from first to second
- 1962 - Sunrise Count disqualified from first to third
- 1958 - Jewel's Reward disqualified from first to second