Closed-Door Talks on Hialeah’s Future

Representatives of the Miami area’s three race tracks met privately Wednesday to determine the fate of Hialeah Park.

Gulfstream and Calder, both owned by Bertram Firestone, are in position to squeeze Hialeah out of the South Florida scheme since racing dates are now unregulated in Florida.

That was evident last season, when Hialeah was forced to close when unable to carry out its meeting in competition with Calder and Gulfstream, which control the market.

Many prominent horsemen support an effort to save Hialeah, however, even though its owner, John J. Brunetti, still makes demands for a lengthy, unopposed winter meeting. He is unlikely to be granted such a request.

“I will have no comment, and it is my understanding that no one who attended will have one either,” Gulfstream President Doug Donn said after the meeting. Neither Firestone nor Brunetti attended.

The tracks have until Tuesday to arrive at dates for next year’s schedule or elect, by not doing so, to oppose one another again. It is doubtful Hialeah would attempt to open again under such circumstances.