Flamingo Stakes
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 Famers. 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.
Past winners
- 2001 : Thunder Blitz
- 2000 : Trippi
- 1999 : First American
- 1998 : Chilito
- 1997 : Frisk Me Now
- 1996 : El Amante
- 1995 : Pyramid Peak
- 1994 : Meadow Flight
- 1993 : Forever Whirl
- 1992 : Pistols and Roses
- 1991 : No race held
- 1990 : No race held
- 1989 : Awe Inspiring
- 1988 : Cherokee Colony
- 1987 : Talinum
- 1986 : Badger Land
- 1985 : Proud Truth *
- 1984 : Time For A Change
- 1983 : Current Hope
- 1982 : Timely Writer
- 1981 : Tap Shoes
- 1980 : Superbity
- 1979 : Spectacular Bid
- 1978 : Alydar
- 1977 : Seattle Slew
- 1976 : Honest Pleasure
- 1975 : Foolish Pleasure
- 1974 : Bushongo
- 1973 : Our Native
- 1972 : Hold Your Peace
- 1971 : Executioner
- 1970 : My Dad George
- 1969 : Top Knight
- 1968 : Wise Exchange *
- 1967 : Reflected Glory
- 1966 : Buckpasser
- 1965 : Native Charger
- 1964 : Northern Dancer
- 1963 : Never Bend
- 1962 : Prego *
- 1961 : Carry Back
- 1960 : Bally Ache
- 1959 : Troilus
- 1958 : Tim Tam *
- 1957 : Bold Ruler
- 1956 : Needles
- 1955 : Nashua
- 1954 : Turn-To
- 1953 : Straight Face
- 1952 :(1) Blue Man
- 1952 :(2) Charlie McAdam
- 1951 : Yildiz
- 1950 : Oil Capitol
- 1949 : Olympia
- 1948 : Citation
- 1947 : Faultless
- 1946 : Round View
- 1945 : No race held
- 1944 : Stir Up
- 1943 : No race held
- 1942 : Requested
- 1941 : Dispose
- 1940 : Woof Woof
- 1939 : Technician
- 1938 : Lawrin
- 1937 : Court Scandal
- 1936 : Brevity
- 1935 : Black Helen
- 1934 : Time Clock
- 1933 : Charley O.
- 1932 : Evening
- 1931 : Lightning Bolt
- 1930 : Titus
- 1929 : Upset Lad
- 1928 : No race held
- 1927 : No race held
- 1926 : Torcher
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