Hialeah license under fire

Florida regulators have filed an administrative complaint against Hialeah Park alleging that the track is in violation of state law and should have its racing license revoked.

The complaint, filed by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering on Feb. 14, says that Hialeah did not comply with racing statutes requiring tracks to honor the live racing dates the division approved in the track's license applications. Hialeah has not conducted a live race since 2001, and track officials have said they have no intention of opening, but the track has filed live racing applications through 2004.

When asked why Hialeah would seek to have a license when the track has no intention of running any live racing dates, David Romanik, the general counsel for the track, said, "We have a permit, so we're entitled to a license."

Romanik also said that the track was hoping that slot-machine gambling would be legalized at Florida tracks this year. That legislation would most likely require tracks to hold live race meets, Romanik said, which would in turn require a racing license.