Coral Gables in Miami-Dade County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Tropical Park Race Track

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 12, 2023

1. Tropical Park Race Track Marker

Inscription. Tropical Park’s historical significance stems from its location on the grounds of the former Tropical Park Race Track. As part of the Southern Florida circuit with Hialeah Park and Gulfstream Park, the Tropical Park horse racing track held the first meet of its season during the time when northern tracks were closed for the winter. The track opened in December 1931 and closed in January 1972. Miami-Dade County converted the land into a public park in 1979, and it became one of the county’s most popular recreational resources. Tropical Park remains one of south Florida’s premier showcase venues for equestrian events. In recognition of its historical ties to the horse racing industry, Tropical Park is the site of the Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center. Featuring two grass courses and three state-of-the-art arenas covered with steel roofs, Tropical Park’s Equestrian Center hosts national and international Paso Fino horse shows every year. These shows include the prestigious Spectrum International, hosted by the Florida Paso Fino Horse Association. The annual highlight of Tropical Park’s horse shows is the renowned Miami International

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Agriculture, Horse and Cattle Show, drawing over 50,000 attendees annually.
A Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2021 by The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1168.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1931.

Location. 25° 43.981′ N, 80° 19.465′ W. Marker is in Coral Gables, Florida, in Miami-Dade County. It is on Southwest 40th Street (Florida Route 976) just west of Southwest 79th Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7900 Southwest 40th Street, Miami FL 33155, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Florida,

on the Gold Coast,

and in Greater Miami.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 12, 2023

2. Tropical Park Race Track Marker

New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Southwest 8th Street and the Tamiami Trail (approx. 2.1 miles away); Alhambra Water Tower (approx. 2.8 miles away); Florida East Coast Railway, Little River Spur (approx. 2.8 miles away); Florida East Coast Railway, Little River Spur Bridge (approx. 2.9 miles away); Biltmore Hotel (approx. 2.9 miles away); Coral Gables Congregational Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); Women Take Action in Coral Gables (approx. 3 miles away); Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coral Gables.

Also see . . . Tropical Park. (Submitted on July 17, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Photographed by Florida Memory, circa 1950s

3. Tropical Park Race Track Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,467 times since then and 147 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 17, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.