Decision Expected Soon on Location of Hialeah Meet

John Brunetti, the New Jersey businessman who owns Hialeah Park in Florida, is expected to make an announcement regarding the location for his track's 2001 season within a week.

Hialeah, which will operate from March 17 to May 22, held its 2000 meet at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., approximately 20 miles north of Hialeah. Brunetti and other Hialeah officials have been considering whether to reopen the historic track for racing in 2001, or again run as a lessee at Gulfstream.

"We are preparing our track as if we will run the meeting here," Hialeah general manager Richard Sacco said. Though he said he didn't know in which direction Brunetti is leaning, he said: "The track is in great shape if we decide to go that way."

It is expected that a major reconstruction project will commence at Gulfstream immediately following its regular meet (Jan. 3 – March 16), but the track may be able to support live racing during the construction.