For eight long years, Hialeah Park was a historic landmark in hibernation -- its future in doubt, its famous Renaissance Revival architecture slowly fading away.

These days, Hialeah Park is busy. Busy, busy, busy.

Armed with its new quarter-horse permit -- and racing dates approved this week by the state -- Hialeah Park is gearing up for a Nov. 28 reopening. Roughly 150 construction workers are doing double shifts painting ceilings, patching damaged pipes and sweeping floors. As the deadline gets nearer, they might go to triple shifts.

``It will definitely be presentable. . . . for sure,'' said Orlando Ceballos, the construction project manager.

Will Hialeah, which first opened in 1925, once again exude the grandeur that so many fondly remember?

Not completely, as large portions of the massive restoration effort won't be done by the time Hialeah again welcomes the public.

Visitors at first will be allowed into the clubhouse area, but other sections still being repaired -- such as the grandstand -- will remain closed.

Gambling options will also be limited, as slot machines are not expected to arrive until a year or so from now.

State lawmakers this year jolted Hialeah back to life by allowing the track to install slots after holding races for two calendar years. Hialeah is knocking out that requirement all at once -- holding one 20-day race season in November and December, and another season in January and February.

Though initially limited to shorter -- and less glamorous -- quarter-horse races, Hialeah Park hopes to add thoroughbred events in the future.

Restoration work began earlier this month. Once open, horses will run at Hialeah until Feb. 2.

Already, 800 temporary horse stalls have been erected, and the once-overgrown track has been trimmed and clipped back into racing shape.

Wednesday, as a group of state lawmakers toured the property, the flock of pink flamingos that live in the center of the racing oval tiptoed between a large pond and their personal little island, before finally taking flight.

``It already looks amazing,'' said Hialeah state Rep. Eduardo ``Eddy'' Gonzalez.

Though a work-in-progress, Hialeah Park's unexpected rebirth holds tremendous significance for both South Florida's growing gambling industry and the working-class city of Hialeah -- Miami-Dade's second-largest municipality.

PLANNED AMENITIES

A reopened Hialeah Park will at first feature only horse racing, and soon after, poker, but the future plans for this 220-acre property include a two-story slots casino, a hotel, and nongambling entertainment options such as a movie theater or bowling alley.

``The bowling alley, the cineplex, while maybe in other communities people take it for granted, a lot of that doesn't happen here in Hialeah,'' said Hialeah state Rep. Esteban Bovo Jr., a former racetrack employee who has been instrumental in the park's resurgence.

If all goes according to plan, Hialeah Park will become not only a regional destination but also a big-time jobs generator. According to a city of Hialeah study, a revitalized racetrack would create, both directly and indirectly, about 11,000 jobs. Thousands have already applied for positions at the complex.

Building out all phases of the new-and-improved Hialeah Park could take 10 years and $100 million, or more.

One big catch: All of the lofty expectations at Hialeah hinge on the actions of the state Legislature, which is still negotiating a gambling compact with the Seminole tribe.

ONGOING TALKS

For now, Hialeah's right to slots is legally linked to the compact being finalized. The compact would allow Seminole casinos to continue offering blackjack and other ``banked'' card games, in exchange for annual payments to the state. State lawmakers and the tribe have not been able to agree to terms on the deal.

If the compact doesn't happen, Hialeah could lose its ability to add slots, which could then endanger its long-term survival as a racing venue.

Track owner John Brunetti is counting on a compact to be approved or, failing that, the Legislature to devise a way for Hialeah to keep slots even without a compact agreement in place.

Armed with slots and all the other planned amenities, Brunetti is confident the new Hialeah Park can prosper.

``With all due respect, the Seminole Indians or anybody else cannot give you the vista that we have out here,'' Brunetti said.

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