The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of a mile and one-eighth. Run as the Florida Derby until 1937, the inaugural event took place at Tampa Downs on February 27, 1926. There was no race in 1927 and 1928 but was revived in 1929 at Hialeah Park Race Track.
Historical race notes In 1937, Court Scandal won the first edition of the renamed Flamingo Stakes for owner Townsend B. Martin, an investment banker, polo player, and former part owner of the New York Jets football team.
With the introduction of the grading system for races in 1973, the Flamingo Stakes was given Grade I status which it held through 1989. Run in March or early April, for many years it was a very important early prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Nine winners of this race went on to win the Derby: Lawrin (1938), Faultless (1947) Citation (1948), Needles (1956), Tim Tam (1958), Carry Back (1961), Northern Dancer (1964), Foolish Pleasure (1975), Seattle Slew (1977), Spectacular Bid (1979).
In 1948, Citation won the Flamingo Stakes under regular jockey Al Snider. Six days later, Snider drowned while out fishing in the Florida Keys; Eddie Arcaro replaced him on Citation, going on to win the U.S. Triple Crown.
The Flamingo Stakes was run in two divisions in 1952.
Chief's Crown finished first in the 1985 Flamingo Stakes but was disqualified to second. A successful appeal was reported by The Washington Post as "Racing officials in Florida redressed an injustice yesterday and made Chief's Crown the official winner of the Flamingo Stakes."
Hialeah Park racetrack ran into financial problems and in 2001 the facility ceased racing operations. Frank Stronach's Thunder Blitz won the final running of the Flamingo Stakes.
Records Speed record: 1:46.80 @ 1 1/8 miles : Honest Pleasure (1976)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Eddie Arcaro (1942, 1944, 1955, 1957) 4 – Jorge Velásquez (1967, 1978, 1986, 1988) 4 – Jacinto Vásquez (1971, 1973, 1975, 1980)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Ben A. Jones (1938, 1939, 1947, 1948)
Most wins by an owner: 4 – Calumet Farm (1947, 1948, 1958, 1978)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Grade2001Thunder Blitz3Edgar PradoJoe Orseno Frank Stronach1 M1:48.23G32000Trippi3Eibar CoaTodd PletcherDogwood Stable1 M1:50.04G31999First American3José Vélez Jr.Eduardo C. CaramoriTNT Stud1 M1:48.90G31998Chilito3Gary BoulangerH. Graham Motion Joe Albritton1 M1:49.60G31997Frisk Me Now3Edwin L. King Jr.Robert J. DursoCarol R. Dender1 M1:52.32G31996El Amante3Ramon PerezWilliam I. MottJack H. Smith III1 M1:49.20G31995Pyramid Peak3Herb McCauleyJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley1 M1:48.00G31994Meadow Flight3Craig PerretJames T. RyersonBen J. Aliyuee Stables1 M1:49.60G31993Forever Whirl3Abdiel ToribioMarty WolfsonIrving Ellis & Alan Reskin1 M1:51.20Listed1992Pistols and Roses3Heberto Castillo Jr.George GianosWillis Family Stables1 M1:50.79Listed1990 – 1991 Race not held1989Awe Inspiring3Craig PerretClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1 M1:49.60G11988Cherokee Colony3Jorge VelásquezJohn P. CampoBuckland Farm1 M1:49.40G11987Talinum3Ángel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasNelson Bunker Hunt1 M1:50.00G11986Badger Land3Jorge VelásquezD. Wayne LukasD. Wayne Lukas1 M1:47.00G11985Chief's Crown3Don MacBethRoger LaurinStar Crown Stable1 M1:48.40G11984Time For A Change3Jerry BaileyAngel Penna Sr.Ogden Mills Phipps1 M1:47.00G11983Current Hope3Alex SolisRoger LaurinKaskel, Bakera, Levey, Laurin1 M1:49.40G11982Timely Writer 3Jeffrey FellDominic ImpresciaPeter & Francis Martin1 M1:49.60G11981Tap Shoes3Ruben HernandezHoratio LuroLeone J. Peters1 M1:49.20G11980Superbity3Jacinto VásquezMelvin CalvertFrances A. Genter1 M1:51.20G11979Spectacular Bid3Ron FranklinBud DelpHawksworth Farm (Harry Meyerhoff)1 M1:48.40G11978Alydar3Jorge VelásquezJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm1 M1:47.00G11977Seattle Slew3Jean CruguetWilliam H. Turner Jr.Karen & Mickey Taylor1 M1:47.40G11976Honest Pleasure3Braulio BaezaLeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone1 M1:46.80G11975Foolish Pleasure3Jacinto VásquezLeRoy JolleyJohn L. Greer1 M1:48.40G11974Bushongo3Don MacBethFrank A. BonsalMarion duPont Scott1 M1:49.00G11973Our Native3Jacinto VásquezWilliam J. Resseguet Jr.Margaret J. Pritchard1 M1:48.80G11972Hold Your Peace3Carlos H. Marquez Sr. Arnold N. WinickMaribel G. Blum1 M1:48.401971Executioner3Jacinto VásquezEdward J. YowellOctober House Farm1 M1:49.201970My Dad George3Ray BroussardFrank J. McManusRaymond M. Curtis1 M1:48.601969Top Knight3Manuel YcazaRay MetcalfSteven B. Wilson1 M1:47.801968Wise Exchange *3Eddie BelmonteHirsch JacobsIsidor Bieber1 M1:48.201967Reflected Glory3Jorge VelásquezHirsch JacobsIsidor Bieber1 M1:48.601966Buckpasser3Bill ShoemakerEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1 M1:50.001965Native Charger3John L. RotzRay MetcalfWarner Stable1 M1:50.001964Northern Dancer3Bill ShoemakerHoratio LuroWindfields Farm1 M1:47.801963Never Bend3Manuel YcazaWoody StephensCain Hoy Stable1 M1:49.401962Prego *3Larry AdamsThomas M. WallerRobert Lehman1 M1:49.001961Carry Back3Johnny SellersJack A. PriceMrs. Katherine Price1 M1:50.601960Bally Ache3Bobby UsseryJimmy PittEdgehill Farm1 M1:48.001959Troilus3Chris RogersCharles PeoplesBayard Sharp1 M1:49.201958Tim Tam *3Bill HartackHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:48.801957Bold Ruler3Eddie ArcaroJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1 M1:47.001956Needles3David ErbHugh L. FontaineD. & H. Stable1 M1:49.401955 Nashua3Eddie ArcaroJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:49.601954Turn-To3Henry E. MorenoEddie HaywardCain Hoy Stable1 M1:49.401953Straight Face3Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:49.401952-1Blue Man 3Conn McCrearyWoody StephensWhite Oak Stable1 M1:50.001952-2Charlie McAdam 3Sam Boulmetis Sr.A. G. (Bob) RobertsonJohn C. Clark1 M1:50.001951Yildiz3Warren MehrtensOscar WhiteSarah F. Jeffords1 M1:51.201950Oil Capitol3Kenneth ChurchHarry TrotsekThomas Gray & Cora Trotsek1 M1:48.201949Olympia3Ted AtkinsonIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper1 M1:48.801948Citation3Albert SniderBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:49.001947Faultless3Albert SniderBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:49.601946Round View3Louis HildebrandtHollie HughesStephen "Laddie" Sanford1 M1:52.001945 Race not held1944Stir Up3Eddie ArcaroJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:52.401943 Race not held1942Requested3Eddie ArcaroJ. H. "Blackie" McCooleBen F. Whitaker1 M1:50.601941Dispose3Alfred RobertsonMax HirschKing Ranch1 M1:48.801940Woof Woof3Irving AndersonJames W. HealyJohn Hay Whitney1 M1:50.201939Technician3Ira HanfordBen A. JonesWoolford Farm1 M1:50.201938Lawrin3Wayne D. WrightBen A. JonesWoolford Farm1 M1:50.801937Court Scandal3Earl SteffenWalter BurrowsTownsend B. Martin1 M1:49.601936Brevity3Wayne D. WrightPete CoyneJoseph E. Widener1 M1:48.201935Black Helen3Don MeadeWilliam A. HurleyEdward R. Bradley1 M1:51.001934Time Clock3Mack GarnerRobert A. SmithBrookmeade Stable1 M1:49.201933Charley O.3John GilbertJ. Thomas TaylorEstate of R. M. Eastman1 M1:49.601932Evening3Robert LeischmanA. Jack JoynerGeorge D. Widener Jr.1 M1:50.801931Lightning Bolt3Charles KurtsingerJames W. HealyLiz Whitney1 M1:51.801930Titus3Alfred RobertsonRobert B. OdomArthur W. Wentzel1 M1:52.001929Upset Lad3James H. BurkeWillie KnappBelle Isle Stable1 M1:53.401927 – 1928 Race not held1926Torcher3Strother GriffinEarl E. MajorEarl E. Major1 M1:57.20
Note: 1968 – Iron Ruler disqualified from first to second 1962 – Sunrise County disqualified from first to third 1958 – Jewel's Reward disqualified from first to second
References