Designed to help the Illinois racing industry survive another challenging year, the Illinois Racing Board recently voted 11-0 to approve a plan to consolidate all Chicago-area racing in 2016 at Arlington International Racecourse and Hawthorne Race Course. The deal essentially blocks harness racing at Balmoral Park and Maywood Park, currently operating under bankruptcy protection by the Johnston family. The consolidation plan, which must be approved by legislators under an expanded gaming measure, was co-sponsored by the two Thoroughbred tracks which typically seldom cooperate.
Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President Mike Campbell said, “We cannot go through another year like this year. We want to be part of the solution and we will do what we can to make that happen.” The past year included purse reductions, fewer dates and elimination of stakes.
One major benefit of the deal is that Arlington and Hawthorne will split all live racing revenue and dark-day simulcast income. Arlington General Manager Tony Petrillo said having more income will allow the track to restore three graded stakes that were put on hiatus during 2015. Also, Petrillo said, Arlington will be able to run 74 dates, as opposed to 34 without the plan in place, and offer about $176,000 daily in purses, as opposed to $80,000. He added the plan also will enable the track to attract about 1,800 horses instead of 800.
At Hawthorne, President Tim Carey noted the track has enough stalls and dormitory space to accommodate both thoroughbreds and standardbreds during overlaps. He added he’ll make arrangements with the ITHA for Thoroughbreds stabled at Hawthorne to exercise during the winter harness racing. Carey, who competed with Arlington Chairman Richard Duchossois, said, “It was tough to come together in the past because we always thought they had the prime dates. Now we can show what we can do with prime dates.” Added Duchossois, “You can’t exist in any business if you can’t earn enough money to pay the bills. We believe by working together, we can revitalize this industry.”
The tracks will run marketing programs together while Arlington runs day Thoroughbred programs and Hawthorne run night harness races. The 2016 Thoroughbred season at Hawthorne will kick off January 1-2, with live racing March 7 through April 30. Arlington will race May 1 through September 29. The racing will return to Hawthorne from September 30 through New Year’s Eve. Hawthorne will run Standardbreds January 6 through February 6 and May 1 to August 31.
Commissioner Kathy Bryne said the decision to consolidate was “a difficult one” taken “in the interest of racing, in the interest of keeping the sport alive” in Illinois. It ends the involvement of the Johnston family, who played an important role in the early development of Standardbred racing in Illinois. Johnston was caught in a shakedown scheme that landed former Governor Rod Blagojevich in prison. Although not criminally charged, Johnston was sued by casino boat operators and is appealing the $77 million judgment against him and the harness tracks. Balmoral and Maywood attorneys stated the tracks are unlikely to find buyers and probably will end up in Chapter 7 liquidation.
The IRB granted Fairmount Park in Collinsville, Illinois 42 programs from May 3 through September 5. Under an agreement with its horsemen’s association, the track may conduct as few as seven races per card.
Illinois racing has suffered from riverboat casino competition and political decisions keeping slots out of racetracks. Former Governor Pat Quinn vetoed gaming expansion bills twice, yet approved video gambling in bars, restaurants and fraternal and veterans organizations, which further challenged the racing industry. Every neighboring state helps racing with gaming revenue, which has pushed purses higher than those offered in Illinois.
