Hialeah

[Glimmerglass]

I think the concept of Hialeah, if it is saved and revived, being the home of the multi-day Breeders’ Cup is a great one. The traveling show concept is hit or miss at best and as cited only a few tracks actually want to host the BC.

Hurricanes aside, Florida still is a destination for many people - fans as well as trainers from Europe, South Africa, Asia - want to go to [vs. going to say Illinois or Texas] for sun and a relaxed holiday feel. You aren’t going to have a festival of racing if its held at Belmont let alone Monmouth.

Bill Finley 7-28-08 “Reviving Hialeah”

One thing he doesn’t have to worry about is Brunetti’s insistence that he will not sell Hialeah. The track has been closed since 2001 and there’s no hope that the track will ever re-open under his stewardship. Nor will he be able to develop the property with Halsey lurking out there promising to restore racing. He’d be crazy not to take Minor’s money.

Hialeah’s biggest problem will be finding a place on the racing calendar to call its own. Back when Hialeah worked, it had control of the prime mid-winter dates, which now belong to Gulfstream Park Gulfstream obviously isn’t going to give them up, which means Hialeah’s only alternative may be to go head-to-head against the track to its north.

With the new Gulfstream facility so unpopular with fans and with its parent company Magna Entertainment in serious financial trouble that may not be as difficult as it once was.

“If they choose to put their dates on top of mine, so be it,” Minor said. “They’ll be going up against a beautifully refurbished Hialeah where the track is 100 percent attuned to the fan experience. I have competed with many companies in my life and I would not view this as one of the more significant competitive threats that I would face.”

Still, it won’t be that easy. There aren’t enough horses in Florida to support two tracks and the established stables figure to stick with Gulfstream, at least initially. Finding horses to run at Hialeah could be a huge problem.

That’s just one of many reasons Minor has his work cut out for him. Maybe bringing Hialeah back just can’t be done. A bright guy with a lot of willpower says it can. Let’s hope Halsey Minor is right.

[Florida_Fan]

in the sun

In response to conflicting dates----if the Hialeah purses are better----guess what?
Also, besides the limited stabling at Gulfstream due to development around there, Minor has another plus in making a go of it. There are lots of racehorses that come down here for the winter----the training center at Boynton is full because of the limited stabling at Gulfstream. Those horses ready to run would benefit from not having to ship in to run. Bottom line is (sigh) Brunetti is stubborn…and holds all the cards there.

[Glimmerglass]

Some of the latest below in regards to Minor meeting John Brunetti … oh, I’m sorry, did I provide that link?

One of the more positive aspects is the almost near collapse of Magna Entertainment who owns Gulfstream. There are rumblings that they could sell that track off - likely buyers would be real estate developers who would discontinue racing. So if that is gone then getting dates for Hialeah would be easier …

BloodHorse 8-7-08 “Hialeah’s Brunetti Meets With Minor”

Hialeah Park owner John Brunetti and prospective buyer Halsey Minor held their first meeting Aug. 6, with Brunetti later saying “we will have another meeting to see if our common interests are strong enough to continue going forward.”

They have not picked a date for a second meeting, Brunetti said. He added that he and Minor did not discuss any terms of a possible sale of Hialeah Park, which has not held races since 2001.

“He (Minor) was as forthright as possible, and he has the same dream I have to re-open Hialeah,” said Brunetti, who has owned the track since 1977.

“We talked about how he might temper his idealism, in view of the realities of the political and economic situations,” Brunetti said.

“Mr. Minor is a successful businessman, and he has a love for racing,” [Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina] said. “If he and John arrange financial terms for a sale, I would give him my full support to help make things happen.”

[Glimmerglass]

Another update: BloodHorse 8-21-08 “Minor Active in Pursuit of Hialeah Park”

Prospective Hialeah Park buyer Halsey Minor has sent consultants and accountants to examine the closed racetrack, and Minor and Hialeah owner John Brunetti say they are planning more talks on a possible sale.

But as of Aug. 20, Brunetti and Minor had not discussed a sales price for the historic track in Hialeah, Fla.

“I have sent John an operational plan, and I am getting estimates and valuations from my advisors,” Minor said. Two teams of his advisors toured Hialeah Park between Aug. 14 and Aug. 20.

“We have made progress and have established an honest and constructive line of communication,” said Brunetti, who has owned Hialeah Park since 1977. “I still need to know more about the depth of his commitment for the time and money that would be involved.”

In 2004, Fortune magazine estimated Minor’s net worth at $286 million, from investments in CNET and other Internet and technology companies. Minor owns several Thoroughbreds including filly Dream Rush, who won four graded stakes as a 3-year old in 2007.

Minor and Brunetti have both estimated that it would cost at least $30 million to refurbish and rebuild the grandstand and the remainder of the property. Minor said he is prepared to spend that money and take about three years for a restoration.

Engineers believe that Hialeah’s grandstand would need extensive structural repairs but would not need to be torn down, Robaina said.

In 2007, Miami-Dade County’s appraised valuation of the 206-acre property was $17.1 million. Brunetti said he pays about $1.5 million a year in taxes and maintenance for the property, using cash flow from his real estate development business.

[Glimmerglass]

I hate to say it but the more I read and hear remarks from supposed savior Halsey Minor the more I think he’s just a wealthy flake. Yep, I said it. Mr. Minor didn’t care too much for my remarks (and said so) on another forum.

He seems to talk a great game about returning the sport to its roots but is somewhat disconnected to the problems ‘here and now’ of the sport. Worse he lacks detail with the actual nuts and bolts of how to operate a track. If sincerely a track owner and its management could survive simply by offering just racing and that’s it does he not think that tracks like Laurel, Suffolk Downs and even Hawthorne would be rolling in clover?

He’s been quoted a lot as of late with his challenge to the establishment and the leaders of this sport (or lack there of) and I applaude that. However it has to come backed up with corrections which would truly resolve problems.

I cannot stand slots either as they are unrelated in large part to racing. That said they are here and likely here to stay in many markets. Entrenched as they are they put tremendous pressure on other tracks in close proximity. So in the case of Maryland racing what do you do? Or even Florida? A place like Calder has had to try gimmics like concerts and family entertainment and the “Extreme Day” to get seats filled. Simply saying you’ll offer great racing as cure all is as hollow as a cheap chocolate Easter Bunny!

Recent blog feedback from Minor to an article in the FtWorth/Dallas Star Telegram

youtube.com ‘interview’ with Minor on racing

Worse it seem rather than him simply focusing on Hialeah and making that a viable return from the dead he appears to be interested in taking over multiple tracks - from the state. Yet all such actions without a sound business proposition as to why he’d do it better and with a great chance of survival and success. I think I’m a smart guy, been around horses for a long time, know a fair amount about the business side, and yet I wouldn’t begin to say I know how to run a track in the slightest. Frankly I don’t think Mr. Minor does either.

In fact I challenge him to read Not By A Long Shot and tell me how he’d fix a monopoly track like Suffolk in a major city to make it a major success story. If the answer is just to pump more money into the place I’d say a monkey could give me the same solution.

Speaking of money, it doesn’t appear he’s without some nagging problems there too:

Sep 4, 2008 “Sotheby’s Sues “Peaceable Kingdom” Buyer for Payment”

Sotheby’s has sued Halsey Minor, founder of Cnet Networks and the purchaser of Edward Hicks’s Peaceable Kingdom at auction, for the $16.8 million he owes the auction house, reports Bloomberg.

Sotheby’s says that Minor originally told them he couldn’t pay the sum because he was owed money himself, and that he was offered “generous payment terms.”

June 2008 “Halsey Minor Takes Loss in Bel Air”

Back in March of 2006 a Bay Area based tech guru and net nerd named Halsey Minor dropped a spine tingling $20,000,000 to purchase a glitzy glass house on Sarbonne Road in one of the snazzier sections of seriously-swank Bel Air.

A few days ago, Mister Minor’s big glass box in Bel Air hit the market with a $12,900,000 asking price. We can, however, speculate (SPECULATE, children, SPECULATE) that Mister Minor might have a cash flow problem (doubtful), there might be a structural issue or something geologic, or maybe mold has set in. OR, it could also be that Mister Minor is just real estate fickle and wants to quickly rid himself of a high maintenance mansion that requires tremendous sums of cash to keep looking meticulous.

Hmmmm …

[Glimmerglass]

If anyone is interested in asking a question of Mr Minor take advantage of the opportunity with the upcoming Oct 2nd BloodHorse Talkin’ Horses session with Halsey Minor; submit those questions now …

Ray Paulick’s article today (that is Ray posing next to the Hialeah fountain) indicates that the asking price John Brunetti wants for the track is so high that it isn’t worth pursuing.

This month’s profile of Minor in Portfolio magazine (Sep '08) is not exactly flattering. Sounds like few folks who have dealt with him in the past think too highly of him today.

[Glimmerglass]

If you believe the hype it appears Minor is looking into acquire Magna tracks:

Paulick exclusive Oct 17, 2008 - “Minor goes publicon Magna Bid”

While many, many will think he’s the White Knight I don’t know how much Minor really knows about racing … I have to say on a very candid basis his replies recent during the Talkin Horses Q&A was exceptionally less then impressive. I don’t think he knows how to run tracks and isn’t forthcoming with any public replies as to his special secret for doing better then any track today.

Statement’s like ‘pure racing and the racing experience’ are nice marketing fluff but nothing solid as to how to get more warm bodies into seats and interested in watching and wagering on race horses.

Read: Talkn’ Horses: guest Halsey Minor October 2, 2008

[Glimmerglass]

Not to beat a dead horse but another article on Halsey Minor from his hometown of Charlottesville, VA - Nov 27, 2008.

It doesn’t appear that Mr. Minor’s financial troubles and battles with a lot of folks (well outside of racing) have abated. From my little old view I don’t think he’s the best ‘white knight’ to hang the hopes of Hialeah’s revival or any race track for that matter.

I did like (in an amusing way) his internet posted counter rant on the aforementioned on-line article tied to a hotel venture:

Lastly (and I mean lastly), I don’t give a damn if you find one prurient article about me interesting or the whole bunch (there are actually nice ones too just not referenced here by the way).

I want to build a nice, fun hotel in my home town. If I go broke while building it (technically not possible since the bank is now funding from here on out) then i guess something i wanted to do won’t happen the way i wanted it to happen.

I don’t expect issues with the hotel but i am not going to be a hostage to its success. Boutique hotels make very little money and are usually a labor of love. This was suppose to be fun but I am a little appalled at how some people in my own home town ride me endlessly for doing something that I thought would add to the city and the Historic Downtown Area.

Anyway, these are my final words on the matter. Bitch, moan, scream, ask to “see the money”, I don’t care. I am not building it for you but the other 98 percent who enjoy something new and don’t live their lives to witness the failure of others.

Now you can go ahead and resume your pointless bitching and speculation. I have a hotel to build.

[Calico]

Quarter Horse racing at Hialeah? http://racing.aqha.com/racing/dyn_content.aspx?FQD=http://www.aqha.com/aqharacing.com/news/08stories/08hialeahpark.html]Quarter Horse racing at Hialeah

Considering the allegations in this thread, this is interesting news indeed.

HIALEAH PARK APPLIES FOR QUARTER HORSE RACING PERMIT

December 23, 2008 - Hialeah Park, near Miami, Florida, has applied for a Quarter Horse racing license, according to an article by the Miami Herald.

The track, which has been shuttered since 2001, hopes to conduct Quarter Horse racing and card games. Hialeah city officials are expected to approve a measure tonight supporting the plan. Owner John Brunetti plans to submit an application to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to run the games.

Hialeah Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[Glimmerglass]

Baltimore Sun 1-13-09 “Entrepreneur wants to build slots casino in Arundel”

Excerpt

A wealthy entrepreneur who denounced slot machines as the “cancer” of the horse-racing industry now wants to build a slots casino in Anne Arundel County - as a cure for Maryland’s ailing racetracks.

Halsey Minor said in an interview yesterday that he still objects to installing slots at tracks and instead wants to develop a standalone casino with the proceeds funding his self-styled crusade to save horse racing.

Racing should avoid this guy like the plague.

[Glimmerglass]

Ah, why look … Halsey “I’ll sue you” Minor has filed suit in Miami County (FL) against Haileah Inc./Bal Bay Realty/City of Hialeah

Paulick Report: Lawsuit filed Feb 9, 2009 (pdf)

Of course Minor’s wealth today - one time significant - is doubtful which may be why he didn’t bid on the MD Slots franchise as he said he would:

VA’s The Hook Feb 6, 2009 “Minor broke? Christie’s, Merrill say he’s out of cash”

Is Halsey Minor, the Charlottesville native, UVA alum, and founder of Internet media company CNET who once had an estimated net worth of more than $350 million, out of money? That’s what two new lawsuits are alleging.

London auction house Christie’s and New York investment bank Merrill Lynch are both alleging that Minor has run out of cash.

Lawsuit (PDF) ML Private Finance LLC plaintiff vs. Halsey McLean Minor (et al) filed 12/28/08 - US Dstrct Court of NY

[Glimmerglass]

Miami Herald Feb 16, 2009 “Lawsuit latest shot at reviving bid for Hialeah Park horse racetrack”

Now Minor is questioning whether Brunetti has the legal right to hang onto Hialeah Park.

Brunetti, who took control of the track in 1978, agreed to pay $12.3 million for it, according to a 1976 opinion by the state attorney general’s office.

The city of Hialeah, which put up $9 million in loans that Brunetti would repay over 20 years, retained title to the property, a summary of the deal in the opinion says. Once Brunetti paid off the loans, the city would cede him title to the racetrack for $100.

Minor’s lawsuit contends that the agreement between the city and Brunetti’s holding company had conditions, however – that Brunetti maintain a valid racing license, conduct races and keep up the property through the duration of the agreement, which was to conclude Jan. 31, 2008.

The suit argues Brunetti defaulted on the agreement when he suspended racing and lost his license, and the city should have taken over the property. The point of the city’s financial assistance, the suit argues, was to keep the racetrack running because of its economic and historic importance to Hialeah.

In 2004, the city deeded the property to Brunetti’s company, after he paid off his obligation, Hialeah City Attorney Bill Grodnik said. He said Hialeah owned the racetrack ``in name only.’’

Martinez said the city followed the agreement to the letter.

‘‘That’s the way it was in the agreement, and that’s the way it was done,’’ said Martinez, who was mayor at the time of the transfer.

As an aside - Minor’s mare ‘Dream Rush’ retired

Halsey Minor bought Dream Rush for $3.3 million at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale through D. Easter, agent.

Dream Rush won or placed in 13 of 16 races and earned $779,364. She experienced her best year at 3 in 2007 when racing for a partnership that included West Point Thoroughbreds.

[Glimmerglass]

While Hialeah has finally made a comeback of sorts - and 28,000 + showed up on opening day - it looks like the woes (and excuses) continue with the once-time would be suitor, H. Minor:

The Hook (C’ville) 12-1-09 "Courthouse steps: Minor facing million-dollar foreclosure "

excerpt

Fox Ridge Farm. A 205-acre spread with a brick mansion, spectacular Blue Ridge views, and one of Albemarle’s largest equestrian barns, the Farm will be sold December 21 on the steps of the county courthouse— unless Minor’s Fox Ridge Farms Holdings LLC makes good on the loan he put against the Free Union-area property earlier this year.

[snip]

More recently, however, Minor has faced three multi-million-dollar creditor actions including an October federal court’s summary judgment in favor of Merrill Lynch Private Finance. He has angrily denied any cash-flow problems and traced the lawsuits to a sort of panic mentality among creditors. Could Fox Ridge’s foreclosure be part of that?

Two days before Thanksgiving, lawyers for Merrill Lynch issued notice that they intend to collect legal fees on top of the court’s $21.6 million award. And who holds the first deed of trust on Fox Ridge? It’s First Republic Bank, a San Francisco-based company owned by none other than Minor’s nemesis, Merrill Lynch.

You can fool some of the people some of the time …

[LKF]

Opening day was impressive - it was a good turn out and I heard some folks thought the turnout was more around 30K+. Being sentimental, it made our barn hopeful. We’re having a pretty good meet so far.

[AnotherRound]

I’ve enjoyed this thread. My mare, Here’s Suds (1963 ch mare) Winnings: 15 Starts: 2 - 0 - 3, $4,160 1966 age 3 - 15 starts with 2 1ST place and 3 3rd place.) ran her races at Hialeah - according to her previous owner, who picked her up from off the track.

She was bred by Mrs. Francis G. Rust. Does anyone here know anything about this woman and her breeding endeavors?

[danceronice]

Looking way back at page one…if anyone wondered about the flamingoes, they’re fine. They’re a banded breeding flock and managed–we had some of their offspring at Zoo New England (my boss when I was at ZNE is a zoo-world-reknowned bird guy. I asked. And he didn’t even find it an odd question.)

[Glimmerglass]

Not so sure that this isn’t timed to take advantage of Calder having problems with equine herpes quarantine actions and accordingly creating a racing void in that region.

BloodHorse 12-4-09 “Hialeah Asks to Run Thoroughbreds”

In letters it sent Dec. 1, Hialeah Park is asking other pari-mutuels in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market for permission to start running Thoroughbred races during its Quarter Horse meet that extends through next Feb. 2.

Those substitute Thoroughbred races are not permitted for Hialeah’s meet under current Florida laws, according to the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Marc Dunbar, an attorney who teaches gaming law at Florida State University, said he agrees with that regulatory agency’s interpretation.

But Brunetti said he believes two provisions of Florida’s pari-mutuel law are “contradictory,” and that he plans to use one provision to pursue his request to start running Thoroughbred races. He said he and his attorneys had not determined whether and how they might make a request to the Florida DPMW.

Hialeah’s last Thoroughbred meet was in 2001. The track was closed until it began its initial Quarter Horse meet Nov. 28.

Brunetti said Thoroughbred races could help Hialeah Park economically. He noted that handle has been “disappointing” during the first four days of the Quarter Horse meet, when fields have been small because some horses are still being shipped from other states.

[Barnfairy]

Okay. Until now I’ve resisted but I can hold out no longer.

Every time Hialeah comes up in the headlines or this thread gets bumped up I think of this.

Seriously. Every time.

I’m sorry. :uhoh: (Does anybody even play jai alai anymore? There was a time that could get you killed up around here… :uhoh: :eek: :uhoh: )

I was wondering how long it would be before they tried to get the TBs there. I don’t know if they’re taking advantage of the quarantine situation at Calder or not, but asking to run TBs surprises me not at all.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4538195]
I’m sorry. :uhoh: (Does anybody even play jai alai anymore? There was a time that could get you killed up around here… :uhoh: :eek: :uhoh: )[/QUOTE]

Did you see this season of Mad Men? One of the clients was a wealthy playboy heir who wanted the firm to create a whole ad campaign for jai-alai and get it aired on tv. He envisioned the sport being the next big thing.

Details here from the MM blog

As for the sport today, if this story is a barometer, it doesn’t bode well: Orlando: Final tournament planned at fronton before closing

Orlando Jai-Alai, set to close in late December, will hold one last tournament, its general manager said this week. On Dec. 11 and 12, players from as far away as Spain will come to the fronton to play the game, in which players whip balls across a court with baskets attached at the wrist. … Nearly 48 years old, the fronton has watched business decline for years. Its closure was announced in October.

Today, Miami and Dania Beach in Florida remain the only cities with full-time open frontons in the United States.

In the world of obscure sports this is one in the mix for the title. Me thinks there are likely overly-tanned Miami Vice-like guys working it in bars claiming to be a jai alai champion - although would that even work as a pick up scheme? I’d think dogsled champion might register more of a reaction.

[Glimmerglass]

Btw - the “Secretariat”, if you will, of the jai alai sport: Francisco Churruca* - “the best jai alai player in the world” per Sports Illustrated

Retired in 1983

*his real name in Spanish fashion was much longer: Francisco Maria Churruca Iriondo Azpiazu Alcorta, but he went by “Patxi”.

Perhaps giving a better idea of the sport being eclipsed is this New York Times article from 1993 citing the closing of the Bridgeport (CT) Jai Alai facility. What was replacing it? A greyhound track. Ouch.