In 1930, wealthy thoroughbred horse breeder Joseph Widener had a vision for his newly purchased racetrack in Hialeah.
He was willing to spend millions to restore what was then called the Miami Jockey Club. It had been devastated by the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926.
“He had traveled all around the world,” said Ken Wilde, historian with the Miami Springs Historical Society and Museum. “There’s a famous track in France called Longchamp, and that was supposed to be the most beautiful track in the world. He fashioned Hialeah Racetrack after Longchamp.”…