There are few better locations for year-long horse racing action than Florida, with the host climates typically ensuring that every afternoon is perfect for a day at the track.
The popularity of racing within the region is high, with millions venturing to one of the standout tracks in the region to socialise with friends and watch the highly-tuned athletes strut their stuff on the track.
Betting on the major races throughout the season is always incredibly popular, but fortunately natives in Florida don’t have to venture too far to watch competitive Grade One racing.
Gulfstream Park Racing
The premier track for horse racing in Florida can be found in the form of Gulfstream Park at Hallandale Beach. This location is open 365 days a year, meaning it is a perfect venue to watch racing action from across the world.
There are three major meets that are staged at Gulfstream Park throughout the year, beginning annually with the Championship Meet, which runs between December and March.
The Royal Palm Meet runs between April and September, before the much-loved Flamingo Festival Meet is in operation between October and November. Undeniably, the main attraction on the Gulfstream Park card annually is the Pegasus World Cup.
The Grade One is the first major race for older horses of a calendar year, it is a key prep for the lucrative Dubai World Cup. Legendary winners of the Pegasus world Cup include Arrogate, Gun Runner, Knicks Go, and White Abarrio.
Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs is a huge track in its own regard, and is one of the most significant in Florida. The course was opened to the public for the first time in 1926, and it also has important historical relevance, as it was used as a training facility by the United States Army during the Second World War.
Racing in the modern day takes place at Tampa Bay Downs on most Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday between November and the beginning of May. Sporting history has been made at Tampa Bay Downs throughout history, with one of the most notable moments coming when Julie Krone won her first career race at the venue in 1981.
The most popular race on the schedule at the track is the Tampa Bay Derby, which is a key fixture in the Kentucky Derby prep races. This race is a Grade Three, and has involved notable horses such as Street Sense and Super Saver.
However, the most prestigious race on the schedule is the G2 Hillsborough Stakes, which is run over 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
Calder Race Course
Despite boasting tow of the most respected venues in Florida, the region had previously housed more iconic courses prior to their closures. Among those include Calder Race Course, which was previously home to the iconic Summit of Speed.
The meet produced a number or future Breeders’ Cup champions, with names such as Cajun Beat and Orientate both going on from Calder wins to record victories in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The course would achieve notable success in 2004, with a reported $10.8 million wagered on the Summit of Speed. More history arrived in 2006, as the most expensive thoroughbred ever purchased occurred at Calder, as a staggering $16 million was spent on The Green Monkey.
Tropical Park Race Track
Another iconic venue for racing in Florida that is no longer in operation is Tropical Park Race Track. This venue opened in 1931, and it would remain in operation before its closure in January 1972.
Tropical Park made history by becoming the first synthetic racetrack in 1966, but for safety reasons, owners and trainers rarely sent their runners to compete on the surface.
The big race on the calendar was the Tropical Park Derby, which was later moved to Gulfstream Park. It is notable for being the prep race for 2006 Kentucky Derby hero Barbaro.
Hialeah Park
Perhaps the most historic horse racing venue in Florida that is no longer in operation is Hialeah Park. This venue covered 40 square blocks of the central-east side of the town, and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historical Places in 1979.
Horse racing at the venue was incredibly popular at the course after being opened in 1922, and it was typically a location for star-studded guests, with former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, attending a raceday at Hialeah in 1946.
Despite being closed, Hialeah Park is still visible in pop culture to this day, as it was used to film Let It Ride, starring Richard Dreyfus and Jennifer Tilly. It was also used to shot scenes for Public Enemies and The Champ.
Hialeah hosted key races throughout the season during its prominence, including the Flamingo Stakes, which was a key trial ahead of the Kentucky Derby.
