My problem with Brunetti was; I agreed with him for gaining dates in Florida, Hialeah wanted the premium dates after Brunetti gained control of the track. He was given the Tropical dates of; November 1st thru January 1st. But he wanted to add or fight for the January-March dates and went as far to petition the state to deregulate the horse racing dates when he was given the late spring dates.
How did he respond? He penalized the gamblers by having 28% takeout exotics and 24% for flat bets. While everyone is feeling all warm and fuzzy about reopening Hialeah. I am one who saw first hand how gamblers was screwed from Brunetti when he controlled not only high price take out and simulcast card for the Derby and Preakness by forcing Florida gamblers to play through his own track pools.
Oh yea and his threat to turn Hialeah into a housing development came to a crashing halt when his facility was deemed a wild life preserve due to the flamingos.
True me Steve...I will listen carefully if you have him on your show in January. I will be respectful by holding back what I really think of that man as a track owner. But I am not going to get all warm thinking about how that man screwed so many over the years and I am just not willing to warm up to him as of yet.
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