Hialeah, Fl, the "City of Progress" is located upon a larger prairie between Biscayne Bay and the Everglades. The name Hialeah is translated as "pretty prairie" or "Upland Parries". The Seminole interpretation of its name, "High Prairie" the area is home to the Seminole Indian tribe. The area was discovered by Missouri cattleman James Bright and Glenn Curtiss who was a pioneer aviator.

The culture of today's Seminole Tribe of Florida can be traced back at least 12,000 years. In the early day of its existence, the US government carried out a policy of displacement and extermination against the American Indians in the east US systematically removing them from the path of "white "settlement. Two legendary leaders Osceola and Abaca. Osceola masterminded successful battles against five baffled general. Murdered the US Indian agent, took punitive action against any who cooperated with the white man and stood as a national manifestation of the Seminole's strong reputation for non surrender... though his exploits were not so well published Seminole medicine man Abiaka may have been more important to the internal Seminole war machine. He was a powerful spiritual leader who used his medicine to stir warriors into frenzy. For all of the resistance the Seminoles began the 20th centaury where they had been left at the conclusion of the Seminole Wars, in abject poverty and hiding out in remote camps in the wet wilderness areas of South Florida. The tribe has matured both politically and financially and the challenge of maintaining the unique Seminole culture while operating in the mainstream economy is the priority for them today. Until 1821 Florida was under the control of the government of Spain.

Entertainment was plentiful in Hialeah during the decade known as the "Roaring 20's" The Spanish sport of jai-alai and greyhound racing drew visitors from far and near. Even the 1926 hurricane that nearly destroyed the city those who believed in the future of Hialeah could not be deterred.

Hialeah Park racetrack opened in 1925 and is one of the oldest existing recreational facilities in southern Florida. Racing drew spectators and competing stables from all around. When the facility was severely damaged by a hurricane in 1926. Philadelphia horseman Joseph Widener and Kentucky horseman Col Edward Bradley hired architect Lester Deisler to design a complete new grandstand and a clubhouse in the Renaissance Revival style. Beautiful landscaped gardens with native plants and a lake in the infield stocked with flamingos. When is opened again in 1932 it was considered one of the most beautiful in the world and became so famous for the flamingos that is has been officially designate d a sanctuary for them by the Audubon society. The track is gone but the flamingoes remain in this park which was once considered one of the world's most beautiful racetracks.

The flamingo Stakes race was an important stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby for 3 year old horses. The well known cult classic horse racing movie "Let it Ride" with Richard Dreyfuss, Terri Garr, JenniferTilly had most of its principal outdoor scenes at Hialeah Park.

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