Hialeah nears final purse transfer

MIAMI - The transfer of purse money from Hialeah Park to Calder accounts is near completion, according to Rick Sacco, Hialeah's general manager, who said the final $1.385 million owed to horsemen would be received by Calder late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Calder horsemen were unable to claim horses during the opening two days of the meet, when none of the $5.385 million in purse accounts had been sent from Hialeah to Calder. A transfer of $4 million was made by the weekend. Hialeah ended its 2001 meet on May 22 and Calder opened on May 24.

"We attempted to transfer the full amount of funds" by last Friday, said Sacco, "but the bank could only handle a $4 million transfer at that time."

Linda Mills, president of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said, "I'm increasingly concerned that the money has yet to show up as promised."