by Steve Bailey

Technology entrepreneur and Thoroughbred owner Halsey Minor has set his sights on the purchase and renovation of the revered Hialeah Park Race Track in Miami.

The 43-year-old Virginia multimillionaire, who campaigns multiple Grade 1 winner Dream Rush and stakes winner Fierce Wind in the name of his Minor Stables, has spoken by phone with Hialeah Park owner John Brunetti with plans to meet him in person to discuss the possible purchase of the Miami track in the coming weeks.

“My principal goal is to kick-start Thoroughbred racing,” Minor said. “What could be better than the resurrection of one of the industry’s decaying icons?”

A horse fanatic and history buff—he shelled out $15.3-million last year to buy Carter’s Grove Plantation in Williamsburg, Virginia, to preserve the historic property and use as part of a Thoroughbred breeding operation—Minor estimated it would cost $20- to $40-million to restore the property to the way it looked a half-century ago at the apex of its—and racing’s—popularity.

“Assuming I can work something out with Mr. Brunetti, I think we could get it back up and running in pristine form in three years,” Minor said. “I’ve already had a very positive conversation with [Brunetti], and have gotten a lot of positive feedback from those within the industry who I’ve spoken to about the idea.”

Hialeah Park, which opened in 1921, is one of the oldest existing recreational facilities in South Florida. It played host to some of the country’s best horses, served as a playground for the rich and famous through its heyday, and for decades was hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful racetracks.

The track, which held its final race on May 22, 2001, and later that year was closed to the public by Brunetti, is officially designated a sanctuary for the American flamingo by the Audubon Society and in 1979 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Although most of the facility remains intact, the stables were decertified and demolished in December 2001. Since then, a group of passionate people determined not to let the land be developed have fought to keep the track from being torn down and replaced by a shopping mall or parking garage.

Alex Fuentes, who heads the group Citizens to Save Hialeah Park, said he is cautiously optimistic that Minor will be able to do what hundreds have, over the years, claimed they wanted to do—resurrect the track.

“I get e-mails every week, and I have for years, from people claiming they are going to be the ones to save Hialeah Park,” Fuentes said. “But none have had the true vision or the financial resources to accomplish that until now.

“The exciting thing about Mr. Minor’s involvement is that he is dedicated to preserving the land for its historic value and wants to use Hialeah as a catalyst to help promote Thoroughbred racing.”

Minor said he plans to pursue this project as he does all others: full-speed ahead and with infinite amounts of creativity and enthusiasm.

“I think that getting that track open again and making it as beautiful as it was before will be an uplifting event for a sport that could use a few more uplifting events,” he said. “If I’m able to pull this off, when those doors open I’m going to fight hard to make sure it is successful.”

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times