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Nov 28, 2009 11:42 pm US/Eastern
Historic Hialeah Race Track Reopens Saturday
HIALEAH (CBS4) ―
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Hialeah Park was a gem of the 1920's, but it closed in 2001. It's set to reopen on November 28th, 2009.
CBS
Thousands of people passed through the turnstiles Saturday at the grand re-opening of Hialeah Park. Some came for the first time, others, like Miguel Gonzalez held on to their fading memories of the historic race track.
"I've been here basically all my life, since I was a kid," he says.
The big opening day of Hialeah Park brought out politicians, horse racing fans, and of course plenty of big hats.
Hialeah Park was built in the 1920s and had a long history as a special destination for winter thoroughbred racing. Two-Time Kentucky Derby winner Bobby Ussery led races here in Hialeah six times.
"I always liked coming here, riding here was always pleasant- beautiful track. I'm glad to see Hialeah open again because when I came here Hialeah was racing," said Ussery.
Former TV commentator Tommy Roberts interviewed President Harry Truman at Hialeah Park in the 1960s.
"It is a historic place, and this is a historic moment for it to come back. It's like saying they've raised the Titanic and it's going to sail again."
To make it sail, the track's owner, John Brunetti garnered private donations and spent millions of dollars on renovations and worked with the state legislature to get approval to race again. He hopes to make the track a casino complete with poker and slots next year.
"It says a lot about Hialeah, it's something that's part of the fiber of racing, part of this community, and we're going to do everything we can to bring it back," said Brunetti.
Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina says even those who don't care for horse racing will benefit from the reopening.
"We start with racing, next step we go to casinos, third step we go to entertainment complex, hotels, convention centers and providing thousands of jobs for this community," Robaina said.
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