Hialeah is one step closer.
 

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...o-hialeah-park
Can't wait till a thoroughbred meet.

That would be awesome

can't wait to see the flamingos again !!

I didn't think that the two (slots and thoroughbreds) were mutually inclusive.

Where did you hear that they were going to run a thoroughbred meet if they were granted a slots license?


As a horizontal player, a mixed meet doesn't do a whole lot for me....I hope this is true as well - just wasn't aware this was on the table...

Dan,

Here's Jim Freer's comprehensive piece from the end of November. I'll get Brunetti on after we start back Jan. 5. This is a cool development in that it gives Brunetti some legitimate reasons to press on and fully renovate the building. Regarding thoroughbreds, the dates situation is a mess of course, but there certainly could be room carved out for perhaps a couple boutique style stands (12-15 days each?) at Hialeah annually?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ter-horse-meet

Just what we need, more racing options....

Stronach and Brunetti fighting for dates will be better fun then MORE racing.. When will it end?

Hialeah should run a 6 week, December to mid-January meet.
It isnt perfect but CDI would probably be more than willing to give up the dates.

Could renovated facilities be such that it would ever be feasible to host the Breeders' Cup one day? It's just so beautiful. Imagine those flamingos in the infield and how that plays on television. I assume the weather there in November would be fantastic, but I have no idea about how many people it could be made to hold, parking, and all the other things required for such a big event.

If nothing else, they should aspire to make it the ideal blend of racing and gaming. Something that doesn't end up being a casino that happens to exist at a racetrack and never the twain shall meet. If they could just manage that much...

they could handle a breeders cup crowd no problem

The infield at Hialeah was one of the most scenic in all of horse racing.

I heard once that they filmed scenes the a major motion picture -- I think the "Godfather" -- from the Hialeah grandstand and in the infield. The walking ring and statues at Hialeah were a work of art.

One great book on training throughbreds by Robert Collins talks about the beauty of Hialeah Park (back in the 1930's and 1940's) and how great winter racing was at that time.

It would be great to start up such a historic venue for thoroughbred racing again !!!

By the way, Merry Christmas to all !!!!

My problem with Brunetti was; I agreed with him for gaining dates in Florida, Hialeah wanted the premium dates after Brunetti gained control of the track. He was given the Tropical dates of; November 1st thru January 1st. But he wanted to add or fight for the January-March dates and went as far to petition the state to deregulate the horse racing dates when he was given the late spring dates.

How did he respond? He penalized the gamblers by having 28% takeout exotics and 24% for flat bets. While everyone is feeling all warm and fuzzy about reopening Hialeah. I am one who saw first hand how gamblers was screwed from Brunetti when he controlled not only high price take out and simulcast card for the Derby and Preakness by forcing Florida gamblers to play through his own track pools.

Oh yea and his threat to turn Hialeah into a housing development came to a crashing halt when his facility was deemed a wild life preserve due to the flamingos.

True me Steve...I will listen carefully if you have him on your show in January. I will be respectful by holding back what I really think of that man as a track owner. But I am not going to get all warm thinking about how that man screwed so many over the years and I am just not willing to warm up to him as of yet.

Hialeah is done. Brunetti would have cockroach races if it would get him a casino. All the rest is crap--grow up already.

Extrapolate from this, if you can:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/2...racing-is.html

Do you think Brunetti is any more high-minded than these guys? Really? Based on what?

I toured Hialeah this past winter. We went to some of the areas of the building which were falling apart. The facility would be perfect for the Breeders' Cup if it were obviously in better shape.

There is never going to a BC at Hialeah. There is never going to be top-tier, or even second tier, thoroughbred racing at Hialeah. If you listen to John Brunetti, you're a frigging idiot. At best there will an AC-type "meet" to keep the license to keep the casino. Wake up--it is just about 2011, people.

That is all.