Who Else Would Like To See TB Racing Resume At Hialeah?

[Thomas Roulston]

Yes, I know all about the epic battles with Gulfstream and Calder for racing dates this would create, but Hialeah has assets that Gulfstream lacks: A real length of stretch - Gulfstream's 898 feet is ridiculous - and a 3-furlong "Nursery Course" that can also be used for 1 1/2-mile dirt races. The turf course can be redesigned a la Gulfstream, Arlington, Laurel etc. A Wilson Mile type chute for 1-mile dirt races (Ellis Park still has theirs) would also be a desirable addition.

[Stillriledup]

*raising hand in air*

[cj]

Not with the takeout levels they had upon closing. They were borderline criminal.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by cj

Not with the takeout levels they had upon closing. They were borderline criminal.

That was brutal, they essentially forced people away and it put them out of business and they're still trying to recover. Do they have normal takeout levels now?

[macguy]

Are there enough thoroughbreds in Florida to allow for another track?

[woodbinepmi]

The problem with going to Hialeah was the track location. They ran in the winter so it got dark early and a large portion of the population didn't want to be in that neighborhood at night time.

[barahona44]

According to Wikipedia (I know,credibility issues),Hialeah is only allowed to run Quarter horse races, per the Florida Legislature.So unless that changes, Thoroughbreds can only be a dream.

[Redboard]

I've never been there but tom Durkin would certainly raise his hand. At his retirement speech (one of several) last year, he campaigned for holding a Breeders Cup there.

[pele polo]

I wish they would. Gulfstream West still has dates but should they? I could see by 2017 them not even allowing live patrons for the races, you HAVE to bet offsite.

Gulfstream needs the break for a couple months, Hialeah seems logical but the owner wouldn't want those Fall dates; he's said so in the past.

Furthermore, that place is still in shambles.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by woodbinepmi

The problem with going to Hialeah was the track location. They ran in the winter so it got dark early and a large portion of the population didn't want to be in that neighborhood at night time.

Yeah. Again, this board's obsession with takeout seems to show up in every thread, but the history of how Hialeah lost thoroughbred racing is well established, and it isn't a story about takeout. The neighborhood became less desirable at the same time that they started losing the prime Florida racing dates to Gulfstream, where they were able to make more money on them. Eventually, attendance dropped so low that it wasn't worth it to continue.

Everyone knows this. Nothing has changed, has it? It's only pleasant for three or four months a year in South Florida, and Hialeah isn't getting those dates. Ergo, there's no way to make money running thoroughbred races at Hialeah.

[DeltaLover]

I really do not think that resuming TB racing at Hialeah is a good idea and I certainly do no like to see something like this happening. Florida has too much racing and if anything, it would be better to decrease racing rather than reopening another track in the state.

Too much racing is one of the mortal sins of modern racing and many of the existing tracks must go away for the good of the game.

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by barahona44

According to Wikipedia (I know,credibility issues),Hialeah is only allowed to run Quarter horse races, per the Florida Legislature.So unless that changes, Thoroughbreds can only be a dream.

They can run a mixed meet if they choose to.

[Arapola]

I attended Hialeah several times in the '70's.
It is in a tough location.
79th street is PAIN.
I used to come in the back way using the Palmetto Expressway to Red Road.
Beautiful track, not so great access.
Traffic similar to Aqueduct.

[mistergee]

a couple of comments here I am wondering about. I went to the track this past quarterhorse meet and I would say it is not in a shambles. They have poured tons of $ into the casino for sure and a good deal of $ into the track including one of the best simulcast rooms for a track I have ever seen and from the looks of it they were still updating. I also wonder about the many comments about "bad neighborhood" not sure what that means or even how it would impact a day at the races on the grounds of Hialeah. I can see it replacing Gulfstream West possibly with a little shifting of the dates around for a short meet. The feeling at GPW last meet was that it was something they had to do but didn't want to. Will see how this next meet goes as I heard they demolished more of the old Calder.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by mistergee

a couple of comments here I am wondering about. I went to the track this past quarterhorse meet and I would say it is not in a shambles. They have poured tons of $ into the casino for sure and a good deal of $ into the track including one of the best simulcast rooms for a track I have ever seen and from the looks of it they were still updating. I also wonder about the many comments about "bad neighborhood" not sure what that means or even how it would impact a day at the races on the grounds of Hialeah. I can see it replacing Gulfstream West possibly with a little shifting of the dates around for a short meet. The feeling at GPW last meet was that it was something they had to do but didn't want to. Will see how this next meet goes as I heard they demolished more of the old Calder.

I'm certainly not going to condemn the neighborhood outright-- I heard that stuff about Hollywood Park at the same time the Forum was drawing sellout crowds.

But there's a whole series of events that happened-- the neighborhood got worse at the same time that they lost the best racing dates and attendance plummeted.

And as long as Gulfstream East ( :P ) controls the winter racing dates, I don't see how that would change if they reopened Hialeah.