Hialeah starting new Quarter Horse Meet

Hialeah Park will open its second season of Quarter Horse racing on Friday. The 2010-11 meeting will consist of 24 days of live racing, Fridays through Sundays, until Jan. 23.

Hialeah reopened its doors for the first time in more than eight years last season when it conducted a Quarter Horse meet that began on Nov. 28, 2009. A crowd of more than 25,000 people greeted the horses back to one of racing’s landmark tracks, but interest waned quickly and the all-sources handle for the 2009-10 meet averaged less than $140,000 daily.

In an attempt to bolster business the second time around, Hialeah will offer a 12-percent takeout on all wagers throughout the entire 24-day session.

Post time will be 2:05 p.m. daily except for two Saturdays, Dec. 4 and Jan. 23, when first post will be 12:35 p.m. There will be no racing on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, but racing will be held on Monday, Dec. 27. Purses are expected to average $100,000 daily.

Friday’s opening-day card consists of eight races including a $20,000 handicap for 3-year-olds and up.