Hialeah Faces License Loss If It Cuts Back : Horse racing: Florida officials say they will shut down the famous track if it goes to a three-day-a-week schedule.

State officials said they will move to lift the license of Hialeah Park if the track goes ahead with its plan to adopt a shortened schedule next week.

Under an agreement deregulating horse racing in Florida, owner John Brunetti must operate the 64-year-old track on every one of the 158 days he requested last spring. The track is set to start its new schedule next week but will be closed on Tuesday--when it was to be open--and there could be problems for Hialeah that day.

The Department of Business Regulation said it is poised to take action.

“If he misses a day he’s expected to be open (under deregulation), the department will take administrative action against his license,” said spokesman Pete Butler.

Hialeah’s competitors are also displeased with the plan.

“We made a deal concerning deregulation,” said Douglas Donn, president of rival Gulfstream Park in suburban Hallandale. “We agreed to that deal, and now John wants to break it. Well, I’ll be damned if John or anyone else dictates the laws of Florida. We made an agreement, and I’ll do anything I can to uphold that deal, because if it is not upheld it will lead to chaos and instability.”

According to state law, “as a condition precedent to the validity of its license and its right to retain its permit, each permit holder should operate the full number of days on each of the days as set forth in the license.”

Hialeah has lost more than $1.5 million in the 23 days since its scheduled 158-day season began. On Wednesday, Brunetti announced it will operate three days a week through May, instead of six days a week as scheduled.

On Thursday, an attorney for the park, famous for its pink flamingos, palm trees and other tropical trimmings, said he didn’t think the state would take Brunetti’s license.

“I don’t think the Legislature intended that a track lose a permit under these circumstances,” said Barry Richard. “In my opinion, the statute leaves room for the state to take into consideration exceptional circumstances, which I believe exist in this case.”

Losing the permit could permanently close the track.

The director of the state Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering didn’t seem to share that belief.

“If Tuesday comes and he doesn’t run, we will take whatever legal action is appropriate at that time,” said Van Jones.