Hialeah is back

[tector]

Wow, are you guys delusional.

Umm, does anybody remember how Brunetti ran this place a thoroughbred track? Among other things, the man was on the bleeding edge of extortionate takeout, WAY before anybody else. He has no interest in racing for racing's sake. I realize this is now more or less true of CDI and the ruins of Magna as well, but this whole farce is designed to get him a casino and nothing more. The idea of Hialeah as a "spa meet" is theoretically appealing (and well over a couple of decades old), but impossible as a practical matter. Brunetti cannot work with ANYONE, ever--he never has, over several decades. The only way it is even possible is if either (a) Hialeah and Gulfstream fall under common ownership, which is extraordinarily unlikely, or (b) the state of Florida "re-regulates" racing dates, which also seems unlikely and which would be a graft-filled invitation to disaster. You also cannot change the fact that Hialeah is located in an area where tourists--who would have to be the bread and butter of a "spa meet"--will not go. In truth there is nothing wrong with the area where Hialeah is located, other than pain in the ass traffic. But most tourists are your typical American (or Canadian) doughballs, who assume that if an area has most of its commercial signage en Espanol then it must be "dangerous".

Brunetti probably will get his "fig leaf" thoroughbred meeting so he can open his casino. It will be as of much significance to racing as the Atlantic City race meet, and that's it. The rest of this talk is just old farts living in the past.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by tector

Wow, are you guys delusional.

Umm, does anybody remember how Brunetti ran this place a thoroughbred track? Among other things, the man was on the bleeding edge of extortionate takeout, WAY before anybody else. He has no interest in racing for racing's sake. I realize this is now more or less true of CDI and the ruins of Magna as well, but this whole farce is designed to get him a casino and nothing more. The idea of Hialeah as a "spa meet" is theoretically appealing (and well over a couple of decades old), but impossible as a practical matter. Brunetti cannot work with ANYONE, ever--he never has, over several decades. The only way it is even possible is if either (a) Hialeah and Gulfstream fall under common ownership, which is extraordinarily unlikely, or (b) the state of Florida "re-regulates" racing dates, which also seems unlikely and which would be a graft-filled invitation to disaster. You also cannot change the fact that Hialeah is located in an area where tourists--who would have to be the bread and butter of a "spa meet"--will not go. In truth there is nothing wrong with the area where Hialeah is located, other than pain in the ass traffic. But most tourists are your typical American (or Canadian) doughballs, who assume that if an area has most of its commercial signage en Espanol then it must be "dangerous".

Brunetti probably will get his "fig leaf" thoroughbred meeting so he can open his casino. It will be as of much significance to racing as the Atlantic City race meet, and that's it. The rest of this talk is just old farts living in the past.

[westcoastinvader]

Some good points, and perhaps one on the living in the past.

Ironic that as you typed that you had attained the "posting level" around here of "Tropical Park."


switching.....

My distant fond memories are of Hialeah in the Spring when the place was fat with snow bird tourists and their money.

Back when South Beach was still a warehouse district for the elderly AND a skid row.

I wouldn't give up entirely that some marketing and innovation might get tourists back to Hialeah in the future.

[SlewsMyHero]

"Bogey" and "Echo Farm", thanks so much for posting the video links. I wish I could have been there. When, if the T'breds come back, I plan to be there opening day.

[tector]

Originally Posted by SlewsMyHero

"Bogey" and "Echo Farm", thanks so much for posting the video links. I wish I could have been there. When, if the T'breds come back, I plan to be there opening day.

Being there, fine--sightseeing can be fun. If Brunetti revisits the takeouts of old, then you would be crazy to bet there, however.