Michael D. wrote:

> CtC,
> i never liked the old GP. with the nice
> winter climate, and great t'bred interest in south florida, i
> could never understand why something different, something
> better wasn't built there.

I think the history of racing in Florida is why. At the time GP was first built the preeminent track was Hialeah. Nothing was going to dislodge Hialeah's hold on the quality racing season. So they built "cheap" like Calder and Tropical Park. Then, Hialeah and Miami kind of deteriorated and folks with money migrated a little further North. Not all, but a good many of them. Hialeah became in the words of the "assign the dates folks" "hard to get to". I think the folks at GP did a better job lobbying the state government for the cream winter dates. Ostensibly, the state people looked at handle generated but quite quickly in the process of awarding the dates Hialeah wasn't given a chance for the cream dates again. (How do you demonstrate handle without a chance at the handle dates?...lol) Brunetti exacerbated things by butting heads with the state officials, going head to head on dates and increasing takeout.

Of course in this era, most handle is generated off track, so the old arguements don't hold water any longer, but Brunetti kind of burned his bridges is my take on it. Its too bad, other than Saratoga nothing compared and NO surface was Hialeah's equal. (You know they grew beans on the main it in the off season and tilled them into the track. At least thats what I was told). It's not like Calder and GP are in the BEST neighborhoods. They most certainly are NOT.

CtC