Fighting for choice dates was a huge problem that ultimately led to Hialeah's demise. Hialeah traditionally had the best winter dates. When Gulfstream began drawing more fans and competetive handles, they fought for the choice dates. Every year there was a big battle in the legislature over dates. (Calder seemed content with the off-season periods). Finally the legislators got tired of the bickering and said that the tracks could run whenever they wanted. Hialeah ran simultaneous with Gulfstream for a short time and did awful. (If I remember correctly, they also instituted an outrageously high takeout, which didn't help matters.) That was the end.
The date problem is still going to be huge if this resurrection plan gets off the ground. If Hialeah is going to run in the winter, they are going to have a hard time prying dates away from Gulfstream.
--Dunbar
__________________
Curlin and Hard Spun finish 1,2 in the 2007 BC Classic, demonstrating how competing in all three Triple Crown races ruins a horse for the rest of the year...see avatar
photo from REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
|