The Palm Beach Post is reporting that CNet founder and racing enthusiast Halsey Minor would like to buy and restore Hialeah Park.
Should the storied track rise like a pink phoenix, it would be welcome news to Gulfstream haters like me.
Halsey has many obstacles to overcome but the idea of a restored Hialeah is too good to be true and Halsey has a few things going his way including support from horsemen like Todd Pletcher.
MEC stock is worth slightly more than a pile of flamingo poop these days and this means the viability of MEC is very much in doubt. MEC announced a 1 for 20 reverse stock split which, at least, will keep the stock from being delisted on the NASDAQ. MEC also managed to sell off Great Lakes Downs to some friendly Michigan Indians but Frank’s biggest problem is the Florida Seminoles who run the nearby Hard Rock Casino. The Seminoles ain’t so friendly and wouldn’t mind scalping Frank although, in my opinion, Frank’s thinning scalp wouldn’t be much of a trophy.
Meanwhile construction of that retail disaster called the Villages at Gulfstream slogs along, soon to be sucked under the Stronach riptide of ego, bad planning and worst real estate market in South Florida since the Depression.
3 Comments
July 21, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I want to go to Hialeah! I will buy a package every year, if by some miracle it was restored! I would become a subscriber to the track and pay in advance!
To taste the glory years would be so cool-think of the money to be made as a movie set! Don’t get my hopes up.
July 22, 2008 at 12:35 am
While I am all for a better product, my understanding is that Hialeah is out of the way and will face some stiff resistance from not only MEC but local real estate developers as well.
Plus the hassle of actually getting race dates.
Here’s hoping.
July 22, 2008 at 10:09 am
Yes it would seem the some local infrastructure improvements would have to be made i.e road access, etc.
The racing at Gulfstream has deteriorated noticably this year and probably will further.
Racing head to head doesn’t make sense but Gulfstream would be the loser if it happens, the place is empty now with no competition.