Posted by Sarah Amandolare to findingDulcinea
CNET founder Halsey Minor wants to buy a historic racetrack in hopes of reviving horse racing, but the track’s owner and the sport’s declining fan base could stand in the way.
Minor has expressed interest in purchasing historic Hialeah Racetrack, a Miami-area landmark that has been closed since 2001. Hialeah has seen champions like Seabiscuit and Seattle Slew, and was an opulent venue, with palm trees and flamingoes, when it opened in 1925. Joseph P. Kennedy’s partial ownership of the track from 1944 to 1960 added celebrity power, and Winston Churchill called the park “extraordinary.”
Hialeah’s owner, John Brunetti, bought the track in 1977. An avid horse racing fan, Brunetti said he’s spoken once to Minor, but is not convinced that he should sell. Brunetti said he still has hopes of restoring Hialeah himself.
Minor wants to see people return to Hialeah to watch races, but doing so will be an uphill battle. Several factors, such as online betting, the increased footprint of casino gambling, and performance-enhancing drug scandals, have deterred fans from horse racing.
Furthermore, plans have been proposed for turning Hialeah into a condominium and retail space, prompting The National Trust to name the track an endangered historic place.
However, a passionate Florida-based cadre is intent on saving Hialeah, urging the local government to build a museum or equine hospital on park grounds to generate revenue for the track.
Hialeah’s fans will have to wait a bit longer to learn the fate of their beloved track. Brunetti and Minor plan to talk again this month, and Brunetti says he’ll be open to selling if Minor presents something unique. “I don’t know if he has the passion or the will to do it,” said Brunetti.
Find out more at findingDulcinea.com