WSOPC history is made at the first non-casino circuit event. Over 8K participants, $3.7 million in payouts, and the first ever $1 Million Guarantee. Over 2K hotel nights are booked creating close to $1M in local economic impact.

Poker is introduced to Palm Beach County at the Palm Beach Kennel Club with the opening of a state-of-the-art 64 table Poker Room.

Simulcast greyhound, horse, harness and jai alai wagering are introduced, featuring races at top tracks from all over the United States and abroad.

Due to popular demand, year-round racing is granted in a bill passed by the Florida Legislature. Hailed as one of the nation’s finest entertainment complexes, nearly a million patrons visit the Club during the 1980’s.

The Rooney Family has owned and operated the Club since this time and has introduced many new entertainment options and received numerous community awards and honors.

Boggiano sells the track to Arthur J. Rooney, Sr. and his five sons — Dan, Art Jr., Tim, John and Pat. The Rooney Family also owns the Pittsburgh Steelers, Yonkers Raceway & Empire Casino in NY.

The original grandstand was replaced with a steel and concrete structure in 1962. The Paddock Room building was added in 1969 as a Private Club.

John Boggiano purchases the track and runs it for 18 years from 1953 to 1970. The facility is refurbished boasting 5 televisions in the grandstand.

The O.M. Carmichael Family, builders of the original facility, sell the track to a group headed by Phil Bryan. It is later sold to a group headed by Bernie Griffin.

The racing “season” that year lasted only 38 racing days with a total year attendance of 72,585 and bets totaling $614,538 (That’s $10,826,320.43 in 2016 dollars).