Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013

As many of you know, in order to race a full schedule of harness racing next year (beginning Feb. 5^th) an ADW law must be passed and signed by Jan.31^st 2014. The General Assembly is scheduled to return to Springfield on Jan. 29^th. That gives lawmakers basically just two days to call that bill and send it to the Governor for his signature. We are in this position because the Illinois Racing Board lacks the funding to regulate horseracing beyond that point. The IHHA is currently involved in meetings with all industry stakeholders in trying to ensure that we race our full schedule. There are many different ideas out there but unfortunately at this point in time, these ideas must have industry consensus and they must be considered legal within this complicated predicament.  Next Tuesday, Dec. 17^th, is the regularly scheduled IRB meeting. We are hopeful that at that meeting a “backup” plan will be cemented. Until then we will continue to explore all possibilities to repair this problem.  If nothing changes from the original dates order however, then our fate is alarmingly clear: an ADW bill must be passed and signed by Jan. 31^st for us to begin our season on Feb 5^th or we will be relegated to racing on Saturday nights only at Balmoral from July 5th to September 28th, a mere 13 days in 2014.

Dave McCaffrey

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Wednesday, December 4, 2013
 

Downstate Classic to Greene County Fair

The new host of the 3-year-old events in The Downstate Classic will be the Greene County Fair at Carrollton, IL. They were the winning bidder for the right to host the 2014 and 2015 Downstate Classic for 3-year-old trotters and pacers.

Horsemen, we are thrilled to announce there will be a substantial increase in the purses thanks to Carrollton's bid. We also want to thank the Al Jeffers family who are making a major donation to the purses in his memory.

The Downstate Classic would like to thank the other bidders for the event as well as the Illinois Bureau of County Fairs and Horse Racing for their assistance. Everyone put in a great effort, and we appreciate the cooperation.

LeAnn Shinn
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Legislative Update

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2013 - 5:15

Death Knell for Illinois Horsemen

The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association strongly denounces the failure of the Illinois General Assembly to pass an extension of Advance Deposit Wagering today. That failure will very likely result in the loss of many of Illinois’ agribusiness jobs and millions of dollars in state revenue.

Without Advance Deposit Wagering, the Illinois Racing Board will not have the money required to operate and Illinois harness racing dates will be cut to the bone with only 13 days of live harness racing in 2014. Thirteen days of live racing absolutely cannot employ the 20,000 men and women who currently work in Illinois’ horseracing industry.

We still hold out hope that on January 29th, just days before the harness racing schedule typically starts, legislators will pass an ADW extension. Much damage will already be done however, as horsemen will undoubtedly have already shipped horses to other states with more favorable horseracing environments.”

Dave McCaffrey
President
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association

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Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 – 5PM

The Illinois Legislature adjourned today without calling the ADW bill for a vote.   Now, the next chance for passage is January 29, 2014.  

Dave McCaffrey

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Legislative Update 

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013  2:30PM

The House is finally debating the pension bill.  After that vote, we'll know fairly quickly whether the ADW bill will be called for a vote.   The outcome of the ADW vote is not the worry, rather if it gets called.  

Dave McCaffrey

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Legislative Update

Tuesday, Dec. 3,2013  1:30 PM  

The report from Springfield is that as of 1:30, no vote has been held on the ADW bill.  Evidently, the singular effort of legislators right now is being focused on the pension bill.  The word on the street is that the ADW bill won't be called unless and until the pension bill passes.   And even then, there is no guarantee that the ADW bill will be called.   On a positive note, there are strong majorities in both chambers in support of the ADW bill; the only uncertainty is whether it gets called.   

Progress is slow in Springfield.  Hopefully, they'll push the ball across the finish line in the next few hours. 

Dave McCaffrey

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Monday, Dec. 2, 2013

The Illinois Legislature is scheduled to meet for a special session tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 3) and Wednesday.  The main reason for the session is to pass a pension reform bill for the state.   We are very hopeful that in addition to pension reform, the legislature will pass an ADW (Advanced Deposit Wagering) extension.  Passage of the ADW bill (and the governor's signature) will cement a schedule for horse racing in Illinois for 2014.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that our bill passes and we'll emerge from the current abyss we find ourselves in regarding the 2014 racing schedule.

As always, we'll keep everyone updated over the next 48 hours. 

Dave McCaffrey

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Chicago Tribune - November 25, 2013

Illinois House schedules 1-day session for Dec. 3
Focus of meeting could be pension system that's $100 billion in debt

November 25, 2013|By Monique Garcia, Chicago Tribune reporter

Illinois House lawmakers were told Monday to return Dec. 3 to Springfield, where they would be in position if legislative leaders reach a compromise on overhauling the state's public employee pension system.

There have been reports of progress but no deal in the ongoing pension talks, and Senate leaders have tentatively scheduled a return Dec. 3-4 should a pension compromise be reached.

There was no mention of what House lawmakers would do in the letter sent by Speaker Michael Madigan's chief of staff, who told members to prepare for a one-day session next Tuesday.

The Dec. 3 date is politically significant because it is the day after the filing deadline for the March 2014 primary election, and lawmakers will know what competition they have.
If a pension agreement is not on the table, House members still could have some work to do, such as acting on a deal to prevent the number of racing dates at Illinois horse tracks from being sharply curtailed.

The state's employee pension system is an estimated $100 billion in debt and has been the target of a massive overhaul for years. But there's been little agreement on how to proceed as legislators weigh how to reduce costs against legal protections to retiree benefits laid out in the state constitution.

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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Horse Racing Update.

All racing entities met for over five hours on Tuesday and significant progress was made toward an agreement on an ADW extension. The deal would fill the IRB budget gap for at least the next two years. Even if today's negotiations result in an agreement, the state legislature needs to pass the bill. Under normal circumstances, passage of the bill would not be a problem, however the legislature may or may not have a special session in early December. Hopefully, that special session will take place and an ADW extension will be passed. If that were to happen Scenario 1 would be enacted, resulting in a schedule in 2014 similar to this year's schedule. 

So, to sum up - today was a very good day but nothing is official yet and won't be until December 3rd at the earliest. 

Dave McCaffrey

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Tuesday, November, 12, 2013

The IHHA continues in it's attempt to spread the word from town to town across all of Illinois that horsemen need to race a full schedule in 2014. Follow the link below for one example.

WBGZ Radio & Alton Daily News (various versions of this radio story were also distributed to 50+ radio stations throughout IL) - November 10, 2013

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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Maywood Park Racetrack is kicking off their Toys for Tots initiative this Friday, November, 15th. The IHHA encourages horsemen to drop off a new unwrapped toy (no stuffed animals) in a drop box in the driver's room. It will be checked and toys collected after each live race night. Thank you in advance.

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Sunday, November 10, 2013

Horsemen left out of legislative session Tens of thousands of jobs in limbo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Over 20,000 Illinois horsemen are unsure about the security of their jobs today after the General Assembly adjourned without acting to extend online horse betting also known as Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW), a key funding source for the Illinois Racing Board. Without that extra funding, the Racing Board will have to dramatically curtail the racing season.

"It's beyond frustrating," said Illinois Harness Horsmen's Association President Dave McCaffrey. "Thousands of horsemen are unable to plan for their future. Working men and women, breeders, blacksmiths, trainers – no one in the industry knows if we will begin racing February first, February fifteenth or in July."

The Racing Board needed to come up with almost $800,000 to help plug a hole in their budget. The shortfall is left over from a failure to extend ADW in the 2013 Spring Legislative session.

Interests in the horse racing industry, including racetracks, horsemen's associations and ADW companies were charged by legislators with coming up with a plan that all of the racing industry parties agreed on.

The plan that the industry put forward would have solved the problem by imposing a .9 percent surcharge on winning online wagers. The revenue from that surcharge would have funded the Racing Board for two years, while also extending ADW. The proposed surcharge on ADW would still be less than the surcharge imposed on bets placed at the racetrack or an off track betting parlor.

"Nearly everyone in the Illinois racing industry supported this plan," said McCaffrey. "We need Help somehow, from somewhere to settle this issue quickly."

The next scheduled day for legislators to reconvene for session is January 29th 2013, the day before racing typically begins.

"Everyone in the horse industry is left in limbo," said McCaffrey. "How can anyone plan to run a business when they don't even know if the industry is going to be around? These are people's lives that are at stake here.

There is some speculation that the General Assembly will come back to Springfield for a special session to pass pension reform in December, however, there is no guarantee that an ADW bill will be called or passed.

"Horsemen need to race to make a living and we are doing everything we possibly can to make that happen," said McCaffrey. "Horsemen are not multimillionaires. We're talking about blue collar working men and women supporting families."

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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Legislative Update 

The only word to describe the situation we're in is UNBELIEVABLE. Today the legislature adjourned without passing an ADW bill. We'd been told repeatedly and edicts had been handed down that today was the deadline. But, like a 3 AM infomercial, the legislatures said, "But wait, there's more." We're now being told that even though an ADW bill didn't pass today, we still have a chance in a few weeks when a special session will be held (supposedly after Thanksgiving) to deal with the pension crisis.

It's beyond frustrating and I feel terribly that we as horse owners, breeders, trainers, drivers, vets, blacksmiths, racetrack personnel, IRB employees, etc., are all being put through this. It's completely unacceptable and shows a mammoth miscomprehension by those in power that none of us know whether our racing season will start on February 4, February 15, or sometime in July. Thousands of Illinois racing related jobs, over three thousand horses, hundreds of school children, breeding plans, etc. are all now left in a dark limbo.

However, this is the hand that we've been dealt, so we have to play it out. As information becomes available we will pass it along as quickly as possible. To refresh everyone's memory, the 2014 racing dates schedule and different scenarios is posted below: 

Here are the four scenarios:

The first scenario is dependent on the IRB receiving supplemental funding and ADW being renewed by January 31st.

Scenario 1 is for Maywood to race two nights per week from Feb. 5 to Dec. 31. Balmoral will race three nights per week from Feb. 4 to Dec. 31. Also dark during the Illinois State Fair from August 4th through August 14.

The second scenario will happen if ADW is renewed by January but no supplemental funding for the IRB is received.

Scenario 2 is for Maywood to race two nights per week from Feb. 19 to Dec. 31. Balmoral will race two nights per week from Feb. 15 to Dec. 31. Also dark during the Illinois State Fair from August 4th through August 14.

Scenario 3 will happen if the IRB receives supplemental funding but no ADW extension is passed.

Scenario 3 is for Maywood to have 0 races. Balmoral will race two nights per week (Fri. & Sat.) starting on Feb. 15 and ending on Dec. 1.

Scenario 4 will happen if the IRB receives no supplemental funding and ADW is not renewed.

Scenario 4 is for Maywood to have 0 races. Balmoral will have 13 (that's correct!) in July and August only.

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Legislative Update

As the clock ticks down, some progress is being made today in Springfield. But, there is one big hurdle to overcome. As a reminder, the two problems we face as an industry are: 1) getting all entities to agree on a bill and 2) finding money for the Illinois Racing Board to fund their budget shortfall.

A proposal will be introduced that almost solves both of those problems; the IRB will be wholly funded for the next two years and the proposal is agreed to by every single entity except TwinSpires/CDI. Hopefully, an out of state owned entity (CDI) will come to their senses and allow thousands of Illinois jobs to stay in Illinois. 

Dave McCaffrey

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Tuesday, November 5, 2012

Legislative Update

Well, one day down and only two left.   Several meetings took place today between the 10 racing entities (made up of horsemen groups, racetracks, the IRB, and ADW companies) and the stubbornness level increased to an even higher level.  The disagreement is basically over the best way to fund the Illinois Racing Board and possibly change the uneven distribution that ADW companies earn.  A wide array of possibilities are being floated.   Some want to put a surcharge on ADW winning bets, some want to increase a surcharge on OTB's, some want to tax the tracks and horsemen, some want to increase the pari-mutual tax and, some, well, blah, blah, blah. 

Let me be perfectly clear about the IHHA's position - we want Scenario 1 of the racing dates schedule and don't care all that much how we get there.   However, the edict has been handed down from Legislative leadership that until all entities are together on a bill, no bill we be called for a vote.   With the room divided about 7-3 or 6-4, it doesn't much matter what side we're on until everyone is in agreement.

Deadlines in Springfield are very good things; they cause deals to be struck and compromises to occur.  Hopefully Thursday's deadline causes consensus or we should all start preparing for Scenario 4.

Dave McCaffrey

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Monday, November 4, 2013

This is a very important week for Illinois horse racing.   On Tuesday, the last three days of this year's legislative session will begin.  We've been told that no gaming bill (slots at tracks) will be introduced this week.   That leaves the renewal of the ADW (Advanced Deposit Wagering) bill as the most important issue that will hopefully be passed.  As a reminder, passage of an ADW bill is essential for Chicago harness racing to race 11 months, five days a week in 2014.   If the ADW bill does not pass, a dramatic reduction in race dates will be imposed on next year's schedule.

There are 10 entities involved in the ADW negotiations - IHHA, ITHA, Maywood/Blmp, Arlington, Fairmount, Hawthorne, HBPA, TVG, TwinSpires, and Xpress Bet. Legislative leaders have told that group to get unified on the specifics of an ADW bill. So far, not all of those parties have agreed on a bill. Over the next three days, hopefully, a bill that is agreeable to the entire group will be presented to the Legislature. Then, both Houses will hopefully pass the bill. A lot has to happen, but I'm optimistic that we can get this done. Failure to pass this bill will end harness racing as we know it in Illinois. 

More updates will be posted as the week unfolds. 

Dave McCaffrey
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Monday, November 4, 2013

Charles Wayne von Knoblauch (Stickman), 60, dies
Saturday, November 2, 2013 - from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH --- Born on March 29th 1953, Charles Wayne von Knoblauch (Stickman) spent his childhood playing on the sand hills of Long Island, where he said he invented snowboarding.  He later moved to the Chicago area where he began a career racing horses with his father Harry. He also spent a few years working for Delvin Miller and Sonny Graham on the Grand Circuit taking care of "the big mare" Tarport Hap.

He returned to Balmoral Park to race horses with his father. Wayne and his wife Valerie had a son Jeremy born in 1978. He enjoyed his family and friends racing horses there and at the Meadowlands and Pocono Downs. He also raced Star City Hero in Indiana with his partner Victoria Rouch.  He was very proud of his son Jeremy and daughter-in-law Shauna and grandson Helmutt.

He is survived by them and his father, Harry, three sisters, and two brothers. He is preceded in death by his mother. He will be sadly missed by the racing family all over the country. He passed away peacefully in November.

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Northern Illinois Colt Association invites you to attend the 2013 Annual Award Banquet & Directors Meeting.

Click here for more

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Monday, October 28, 2013

Lawmakers gamble on horse racing

http://www.illinoishomepage.net/story/lawmakers-gamble-on-horse-racing/d/story/hEMzymT-AUW0FSgw2e736Q

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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

No ADW bill has been passed as of today.  A hearing today was held on the gaming bill but no vote is expected anytime soon.   The horse industry is finding itself in the middle of the pension reform crisis and as a result progress remains slow.  Even though pension reform has nothing to do with us, we're being put on the back burner.  If the legislature could solve that issue, we'd be in much better shape.  Hopefully, in a couple weeks, a new ADW bill will be passed thereby preserving scenario one as our schedule for next year. 

Dave McCaffrey

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Thursday, October 17, 2013
 

ILLINOIS RACING UPDATE

Next week, the Illinois Legislature will start a three week session in which an extension of ADW will hopefully be passed.   As a reminder, ADW stands for Advanced Deposit Wagering or computer/phone betting.    Also, as a reminder, the extension of ADW is of huge importance to all of us because our racing dates for 2014 are dependent on its passage.

Over the last few weeks there have been many meetings between all of the representatives involved in extending the ADW law.   Several ideas are being talked about and negotiated.   It is my great hope that an agreement will be reached and a bill is passed.

The reason for all of these problems is two-fold.   First, ADW provides about 30% of the total amount of the Illinois Racing Board's budget.   If the Racing Board loses that income they cannot regulate the number of racing days we've had in past years and there will be a dramatic reduction in racing dates next year.   Second, ADW was supposed to help Illinois racing and in the last two years our purses and some racetracks have received very little income from it.  So, the law needs to be fixed AND passed in the next three weeks.

Like most things in Springfield (for example, the gaming bill), a lot of these issues can get put in a mix of other matters and we lose control of our destiny. The harness industry will be well-represented and will work very hard to get a better ADW bill passed.

We are at a crucial moment in Illinois racing.  Please stay informed!

I will continue to provide updates on this website as the next few weeks unfold.

Dave McCaffrey

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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Racetrack closure and massive job losses on horizon
Illinois Racing Board issues racing dates that could  decimate horseracing

Hinsdale, IL – The Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association (IHHA) today warned that potentially catastrophic changes to the state’s horseracing industry are on the horizon after September’s Illinois Racing Board (IRB) race dates meeting. Those changes include the shuttering of Maywood Park in the western suburbs and an extensive reduction in racing dates at Balmoral Racetrack in the southern suburbs. In a worst case scenario outlined by the IRB, live harness racing dates would be reduced from the 225 live race days in 2013 to a meager 13 live dates in 2014.

“Thousands of horsemen would lose their jobs and have their lives turned upside down under this scenario,” said IHHA President Dave McCaffrey.

The Racing Board passed four race date options during their last board meeting with a best case scenario keeping the race dates similar to 2013. The doomsday scenario would occur if the IRB does not receive $725,000 in supplemental funding from the state and an extension of Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) by January 31 2014.

“Harness racing in Illinois and all of the agribusiness associated with it would virtually cease to exist,” said McCaffrey. “Horsemen cannot make a living on 13 race dates per year. And neither can veterinarians, blacksmiths, breeders, grooms, hay farmers or truck and trailer salesmen.”

Under the first and best case scenario, the IRB will receive $725,000 in “supplemental funding” and ADW will be renewed by January 31. The supplemental funding is required, says the IRB, to make up for a funding shortfall experienced earlier in 2013 when the General Assembly failed to extend ADW which allows online horse wagering. The IRB receives a substantial amount of revenue from ADW taxes. The General Assembly eventually passed an ADW extension in May of this year but it is set to expire again at the beginning of 2014.

Scenario one would basically keep harness racing the same as it currently is. Maywood Park would host live races two nights per week from February 5 to December 31 and Balmoral would host races three nights per week from February 4 to December 31.  

In scenario two, ADW would be renewed by January 31 but no supplemental funding would be provided for the IRB.

This second option would allow Maywood to race two nights per week from February 19 to December 31.  Balmoral would race two nights per week from February 15 to December 31.  

Under scenario three, the IRB would receive the $750,000 supplemental funding but no ADW extension would be passed.  

The third option would close Maywood to live racing.  Balmoral would race only two nights per week on Friday and Saturday starting on February 15 and ending on December 1.  

The fourth scenario is by far the worst and would happen if the IRB receives no supplemental funding and ADW is not renewed.  

Scenario four would virtually end harness racing in Illinois allowing zero Maywood races and a meager 13 race nights at Balmoral in July, August, and September.  

“We plan to work with the IRB and the legislature to find adequate funding to retain the tens of thousands of agriculture jobs that the horse racing industry provides to Illinois,” said McCaffrey. “We know that the Governor and General Assembly understand the tremendous value that horse racing provides to Illinois’ economy as a major agribusiness driver. Without a solution, there will be a lot of new people filing for unemployment.”

The IHHA is also hopeful that the General Assembly will find the will to finally pass legislation allowing slots at racetracks during the fall veto session. To the tremendous detriment of Illinois racing, other states have allowed slot machines at racetracks drawing bettors, horsemen and horses away from Illinois to greener pastures.

“We are definitely at a crossroads,” said McCaffrey. “The General Assembly has the power to save horseracing and the thousands of jobs and millions of dollars that it injects into Illinois’ economy, or they can let another major industry move to other states where it is allowed be successful.”

Perhaps the only bright spot of the Racing Board hearing was the order handed down for racetracks to keep their backstretches open and operational under scenarios one and two.  Of course that victory would be eliminated if an ADW bill is not passed.  

Illinois’ Veto Session begins October 22.

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

2014 Dates hearing.  

In a remarkable meeting, the IRB handed out the dates schedule for 2014. There are four different scenarios dependent on whether ADW is extended and whether the IRB gets extra "supplemental" funding from the state.  
The four scenarios go in order from the best possibility to the worst, with Scenario 4 basically ending harness racing in Illinois.  

Here are the four scenarios:

The first scenario is dependent on the IRB receiving supplemental funding and ADW being renewed by January.

Scenario 1 is for Maywood to race two nights per week from Feb. 5 to Dec. 31.  Balmoral will race three nights per week from Feb. 4 to Dec. 31. Also dark during the Illinois State Fair from August 4th through August 14.

The second scenario will happen if ADW is renewed by January but no supplemental funding for the IRB is received.

Scenario 2 is for Maywood to race two nights per week from Feb. 19 to Dec. 31.  Balmoral will race two nights per week from Feb. 15 to Dec. 31.  Also dark during the Illinois State Fair from August 4th through August 14.

Scenario 3 will happen if the IRB receives supplemental funding but no ADW extension is passed.  

Scenario 3 is for Maywood to have 0 races.  Balmoral will race two nights per week (Fri. & Sat.) starting on Feb. 15 and ending on Dec. 1.   

Scenario 4 will happen if the IRB receives no supplemental funding and ADW is not renewed.  

Scenario 4 is for Maywood to have 0 races.   Balmoral will have 13 (that's correct!) in July and August only.  

Both backstretches are required to stay open next year.   

When we know more about the efforts to pass ADW and to secure supplemental funding, we will pass it along.   

David McCaffrey

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

As we inch closer to the end of the year, I want to give the membership an update regarding the general state of Illinois harness racing.  Last year at this time, I wrote that our overnight purses and stake purses would stay about the same until the end of 2013 but that our reserves would be quickly diminishing by that time.  Since then, no desperately needed slot legislation became law.  Some money, however, landed in our purse account as a result of a "compromise" between the state and racing industry regarding the 10th riverboat.  That deal netted the harness purse account about $3 million and paid down some debt that we owed racetracks because of previously deferred recapture; more on what all that means later in this update.

Next week, the Illinois Racing Board will announce the racing schedule for 2014.  In a surprise move, Maywood/Balmoral turned in two separate schedule requests.  One keeps the schedule practically the same - 50 weeks with three days per week at Balmoral and two days per week at Maywood - the other was a monumental change - one day per week at Balmoral and four days per week at Maywood in January and February with the other 10 months to be raced exclusively at Balmoral.  The tracks also requested that the Racing Board allow them to close the backstretch at Maywood.  The IHHA objected loudly in a number of ways to any backstretch closings.  The IHHA has been arguing that backstretches have always been an expense incurred by the tracks.  They are part of the business model of racing, especially at tracks that don't have slot-inflated purses.  Where would this transfer of expenses stop?  If tracks were allowed to close backstretches in 2014, will horsemen the following year be expected to pay the expense of the track crew or the race office employees or the stewards?

Now for the real shocker:  the Racing Board has informed us that their budget is in dire straits.  They announced publicly at a meeting last week that there is a necessity to cut 115 racing dates from next year's schedule.  How those cuts will come was not announced but, for several reasons, it appears that at least half may come from the harness side.  If these cuts come to fruition, it will mean the most dramatic change to Illinois harness racing in many years.  The schedule change could mean that we don't race on Wednesdays and some Thursdays or it could mean that we don't race for many weeks or months at a time.  Either way, a large reduction in racing dates in 2014 appears to be on the way because of Racing Board deficits.

So, what will the purses be?  The fact that the purse account received an extra $3 million will be helpful but it is not as much as we need to get through next year without reducing purses (possibly drastically).  One reason that so many of us tried to get a gaming bill passed was to prevent from happening what is going to happen to us next year.

Next Tuesday the decision on the racing dates will be handed down.  Several important questions will be able to be answered because of that decision.  We will post the dates schedule on our website as soon as we get the information.  Please check back next week for more info.

Dave McCaffrey

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Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

The IHHA is delighted to congratulate Dillon Cox of Sherman, Illinois for winning the Tim Fouts Memorial for amateur drivers at the Delaware County Fair on Sunday, September 15^th.  Dillon drove Sharp Shuttle from off the pace to win in 1:59. Dillon is the 17 year old son of trainer Mike Cox. The race features the top drivers from various driving clubs from across the US. Dillon represented the Mid-Western Amateur Drivers Association. Great job Dillon.

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Knowing the importance of cash flow to horsemen, the IHHA is pleased to be able to advance the purses earned at Springfield and DuQuoin this year. As we all know our state can be very delinquent in paying their bills, so the IHHA Board of Directors decided again, as we have done before to get the money into horsemen’s hands as soon as possible. We have also been able to get the HGCA, the bookkeeping company, to pay the driver’s and trainer’s their percentage of the purses earned. We are able to do this because of the remaining portion of the 3% money that is still in our purse account. Unfortunately, we can also say that being able to do this in 2014 appears doubtful, as the 3% money will be long gone by then.

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Friday, August 2, 2013

The following 2014 race date application announcement filed with the Illinois Racing Board now appears like this:

http://www2.illinois.gov/irb/Documents/Dates%20Applied.pdf

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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The following race date applications were filed today with the Illinois Racing Board. Click here for the link 2014 Race Dates Applied For

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Friday, July 26, 2013

At the July 25^th Illinois Racing Board’s meeting, Maywood Park (dba Betzotic) was granted an advance deposit wagering license for Illinois. Despite objections from the IHHA, the ITHA and ILHBPA, the license was approved. Currently, all other Illinois ADW licensees (Twin Spires, TVG and Express Bet) have the consent of a local horsemen’s group. Maywood Park (dba Betzotic) does not

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Wednesday, Juy 10, 2013

“Big Tom” scholarship winner has horseracing in his blood

$5,000 awarded to student from Chrisman

HINSDALE, IL – The Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association (IHHA) is proud to announce Matt Avenatti of Chrisman, Ill. as the winner of the 2013 “Big Tom Scholarship.” The scholarship is funded with help from Tom Lewandowski, John Leahy and Jolene Leahy.

A special IHHA scholarship committee was formed to review applications and essay submissions.

“Matt is a terrific pick for this scholarship,” said IHHA Executive Director Tony Somone. “His family has deep harness racing roots and Matt’s love of the sport is evident.”

Avenatti is the third generation in his family to be involved in harness racing. He recently began driving horses but he says he is keeping his options open for school. “Maybe biology or business or even a teaching degree,” he said.

Matt says he’d like to keep the family’s 44 year tradition alive. “I’d like to be a catch driver with a stable on the side,” he said. College is his present priority though. “I made a commitment to my dad that if I was going to race horses, I’d have to go to school.”

As for Lewandowski’s decision to pony up such a generous donation for the second year in a row, he says that “it’s about providing opportunity and the experience of an education. Going to college is more important than ever.”

Funding for the scholarship also came from John and Jolene Leahy, who donated a 2013 breeding to Jereme's Jet which was auctioned off at the 2012 Walker Land of Lincoln Sale in August of last year. All of the proceeds from that breeding have gone toward the Big Tom IHHA Scholarship Fund.

“The youth is the lifeblood of the future of harness racing,” said Land of Lincoln sales manager, Kristi Patterson. “We are happy to put forth an effort to expand higher education opportunities for everyone involved with harness racing. This is really a ‘win-win’ situation.”

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Friday, June 28,2013

As many of you have already heard, the Illinois Racing Board will release $23 million dollars to the Illinois horse racing industry. This money stems from a 1999 law that allowed the riverboats to go dockside and the horse racing industry would get 15% of the adjusted gross receipts from the 10^th riverboat license. 20% of that money was just recently released by the General Assembly. The other 80% that was originally earmarked for Illinois horse racing will now go to the School Infrastructure Fund. The 20% totals $23 million. That money will be divided up as follows:

From the IRB website:

Pursuant to Section 54 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act, 50% of all moneys in the Horse Racing Equity Fund shall be distributed for horsemen’s purses, of which 57% shall be distributed for thoroughbred race meets and 43% for harness race meets.

The remaining 50% shall be distributed pro rata according to the aggregate proportion of the state-wide handle at the racetrack, intertrack and intertrack wagering locations that derive their licenses from a racetrack for calendar years 1994, 1996 and 1997.

So money earmarked for harness purses at Maywood and Balmoral is $4,924,212.95. However, 50% of that purse money or $2,462,106.48 must be paid to Maywood and Balmoral to pay back older recapture debt.

Bottom line is money added for harness purses at Maywood and Balmoral is $2,462,106.48.

Bottom line money added for Maywood and Balmoral is $3,684,606.39 plus $2,462,106.48 equaling $6,146,712.87.

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Saturday, June 22, 2013

 Notice of the Annual Election Meeting of the

Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association

The annual meeting of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association will be held Saturday, August 17, 2013 at the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association office, 15 Spinning Wheel Road, Suite 432, Hinsdale, Illinois at 1:00p.m.

Nominating petitions seeking election or re-election to the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association Board of Directors have been filed by the following:

                                         Martin J. Engel

                                         Gerald Hansen

                                         Bernie Paul

                                         Roger Welch

                                         Rita Williams

Since there were only a total of five members who filed petitions for the five positions open on the Board, the IHHA has decided to forego the expense of a formal election.  This decision was made after conferring with our attorney and the CPA firm that acts as the election supervisor.

IHHA members will still be sent a form asking for your proxy and consent of the candidates for the five board seats.

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Monday, June 10, 2013

Mike Paradise had an exceptional story that was published in Saturday's Kankakee Daily Journal. Click here to check it out.

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Legislative Update  May 31, 2013  7pm

The gaming bill went up in flames a short while ago.   This year's version of defeat isn't much different from years past.  Legislative insiders blamed the usual suspects - Mayor Emmanuel, Gov. Quinn, Speaker Madigan, the gaming board chairman, etc.  To me, however, it seems like the legislative leaders pass gaming expansion around like a hot potato deciding whose turn it is to put up the final roadblock. Regardless, no slots will be coming to racetracks any time soon and the effects of that will be very unfortunate.

On a side note, ADW renewal passed both houses and now awaits Gov. Quinn's signature.  Horsemen receive very little from ADW in the way of purses but, at least, the convenience of on-line wagering will be brought to many fans and at home gamblers, which is a positive development in an otherwise murky moment in Illinois racing history.  

Dave McCaffrey

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Friday, May 31, 2013  1:30 pm

The state capitol in Springfield is such a strange place.  There is so very little structure to any given day's events that you feel like you're driving a horse with a broken line.  Or, to put it another way, imagine 120 horses showing up at 5pm to the paddock; nobody knows what race they're in so everybody gets their horses ready and then all of a sudden some voice comes over the speaker and starts announcing 9 horses names who need to be on the track to race in five minutes. Oh, and negotiations are being held behind the scenes to decide which horses will compete and which drivers will drive them.  Of course, there's always a chance that you'll show up with your horse, get him ready, and you'll never be called to race (the legislative equivalent of the bill not being called for a vote.)  Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue in the paddock?  And that's one of many reasons why Springfield is so chaotic. 

Right now, we're in the paddock and ready to race.  Only 10 hours remain. 

Dave McCaffrey

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Thursday, May 30, 2013 5 pm

NBC political reporter Carol Marin is reporting that an agreement has been reached between the City of Chicago and Governor Quinn. We are hoping she is right because that will pave the way to the potential passage and signage of our gaming (racino) bill.

There are 30 hours left in the session. Keep your fingers crossed and continue to check back for updates.

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Thursday, May 30 2013

Negotiations continue over gambling expansion in Illinois - By: Tony Arnold

Supporters of gambling expansion in Illinois are scrambling to negotiate the bill in Springfield.

A plan to add five casinos in Illinois, including one in Chicago, is still being negotiated as state legislators are scheduled to end their session on Friday.

State Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, sponsors the bill.
He said he wants to pass the gambling expansion package by Friday, but he doesn’t know how the governor feels about the plan.

“I guess I’d like to know where the governor is on this issue,” Rita told reporters Wednesday. “And if the intent is Chicago should be out of this bill, he should say that.”

Rita said if the Chicago casino is removed from the plan, it wouldn’t have enough support.

The plan also allows horse racing tracks in the state and airports to add slot machines. Rita said the airport slots were still being negotiated.

Gov. Pat Quinn has said he would not support a gambling plan if lawmakers do not approve a pension reform bill first. Quinn has vetoed two previous gambling expansion bills.

The head of the Illinois Gaming Board, Aaron Jaffe, has said he has concerns about oversight of a Chicago casino.

WBEZ - May 29, 2013

http://www.wbez.org/news/negotiations-continue-over-gambling-expansion-illinois-107418

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Tax hang-up stalls bill to expand gambling
- State Journal Register, Doug Finke

Determining how much Illinois casinos should pay in taxes is a “logjam” that’s stalling a gambling expansion bill in the House.

Rep. Robert Rita, D-Blue Island, lead House sponsor of the expansion bill, said tax structure is the major one of several issues still being debated before the gaming bill is ready for a vote in the House.

“The tax rate is the big one,” Rita said Monday. “We’ve been working on it, and we’re sort of stuck at that.”

Casinos are taxed at varying rates depending on their revenues. Those with the highest revenues face a 50 percent tax rate.

As the bill was approved by the Senate, those rates would change significantly for higher-earning casinos, falling to 40 percent for those making between $200 million and $300 million. Casinos wouldn’t pay 50 percent until they make more than $800 million.

Rita said negotiations are centered around both the rates that are paid  and when they will go into effect. He acknowledged that in some cases, the negotiations could lead to lower taxes for some casinos.

Rita also said discussions are taking place about earmarking some of the gambling revenue for specific purposes. The expansion bill, which was previously approved by the Senate, calls for some money to be allocated to economic development programs in black and Latino areas and for specific agriculture programs like extension services and to repair the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The amounts of those various earmarks are under discussion.

Just four days are left in the spring session, but Rita said he is confident a compromise can still be achieved.

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Friday, May 24, 2013

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
- State Journal Register

Gambling expansion bill in final negotiations at Statehouse

The new sponsor of a plan to expand Illinois' gambling says legislation proposing five new casinos is in final negotiations.

Democratic Rep. Bob Rita said Thursday that talks are "advancing rapidly." The bill cleared the Senate and awaits a House vote. Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed two gaming bills but says he's open to a bill with ethical protections and money for schools.

Rita didn't say when a vote was expected. Lawmakers adjourn May 31.

The bill proposes casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Chicago's south suburbs and Lake County. Rita of Blue Island says a south suburban casino is priority because it'll be an economic starter for the region.

Rita became sponsor after Democratic Rep. Lou Lang removed his name over a "perceived" conflict of interest.

The bill is SB1739.

Dave McCaffrey

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Legislative Update  

There is good news on the I-Gaming front.  It appears that Senate President Cullerton will drop his bid to introduce the I-Gaming bill, at least for now.  I-Gaming will be brought up again at a different time; when it does, we will do everything we can to ensure that a portion of proceeds from I-Gaming be shared with horsemen.

Regarding the Gaming/Racino bill, we continue to wait for the bill to be voted on in the House.  Insiders say that discussions between House members and the Governor's office are taking place right now to shore up support from Governor Quinn. Again, the session ends May 31st.

On a different front, an ADW extension is also in the works.  Purse accounts don't get a lot of money from ADW wagering, but the convenience it brings to racing fans is a great benefit and anything we can do to make fans happy is the right thing to do.

More updates in the days to come.

Dave McCaffrey

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

By Mike Paradise

Nine ICF sophomore trotting colts and geldings entered the Cardinal Trot so eliminations were not needed Wednesday for the $50,000 Final on May 29 at Balmoral Park.

All except Powerful Poe, last season’s freshman champion with over $155,000 banked for the Dirk Simpson Stable, will race elsewhere on the Wednesday’s card.

And that’s why I have a problem.

This week’s conditioned sheet read under the Cardinal #10 heading: “There will be a prep offered if there are no elimination races—indicate yes or no.”

The same offer of a prep race was listed on last Sunday’s Violet Trot.

In both cases 9 horses were entered. No eliminations were needed. But no prep was written. All the Cardinal and Violet trot entrants instead were put in in races scattered throughout the Sunday and Wednesday cards such as NW 1, NW 2 or 3 or NW 4.

However, there was no race Sunday for Trot Fudge Sundae or Powerful Poe on Wednesday.

Evidently those two trotters won too many races and won too much money as 2-year-olds because they’ll go unraced another week.

The “Winner’s Over” trot on Wednesday didn’t fill or didn’t have enough horses to the liking of the Race Office so Powerful Poe had nowhere to go.

There was no such race offered on Sunday’s conditioned sheet for Trot Fudge Sundae if they didn’t go with a prep and they didn’t, so she’s singled out like her Dirk Simpson trained stable-mate Powerful Poe.

That means both trotters will be idle for three full weeks before they go postward in the first major ICF stake race of the season in their respective divisions.

Couldn’t we have gone with a non-wagering prep before the regular cards so that ALL the Violet and Cardinal Trot entrants could get raced?

I thought Illinois racing offices are expected to write races to encourage owners to buy, breed and race in our state.

Instead there are those who feel the priority is to take these ICF horses and use them in open company races to get fuller fields and if some stake finalists don’t get raced, so be it.

If you go to the Illinois Racing Board Homepage it says:

LEGISLATIVE INTENT

“The Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 is intended to benefit the people of the State of Illinois by assisting economic development and promoting Illinois tourism.
The General Assembly finds and declares it to be the public policy of the State of Illinois to:

(E). Encourage the breeding of thoroughbred and standardbred horses in Illinois.”

It seems that some race officials licensed by the Illinois Racing Board feel they don’t have to inhere to that message which was put into law by our legislators some 38 years ago.

Now days the list of owners who still invest heavily in ICF a yearling to race in our state isn’t very long. The right decisions are needed to keep it from shrinking even more.

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

BREAKING NEWS FROM SPRINGFIELD.   PLEASE READ.

Racetracks Are Trying To Block Horsemen From Sharing in their Internet Gaming Jackpot.

There are potentially terrible events happening in Springfield.  Three weeks after removing internet gaming (I-Gaming) from the big gaming bill, Senate President John Cullerton has decided to try and pass a separate I-Gaming bill in the next couple weeks.  The I-Gaming bill (SB 7) legalizes a racetrack to launch an internet casino (with slots, blackjack, etc.) and allows them to keep all of the revenues.  Any sort of new gaming license offered to racetracks in the past has always shared revenue with purses.  Why?  Because the purse side of the equation is the side that contributes thousands and thousands of jobs to the state.  Imagine how many jobs would be created/saved if $25 or $30 million would be pumped into purses annually.  Compare that number to how many jobs will be lost if horse racing no longer exists in Illinois.  A bill giving racetracks all revenue from new gaming is unprecedented, inexplicable, and inequitable.  

SENATE BILL 7, IN CURRENT FORM, WILL MAKE RECAPTURE LOOK LIKE CHUMP CHANGE.

To best comprehend what I'm saying, please see figure 1 and assume that both the big gaming bill (legalizing racinos) and the I-Gaming bill become law.  Ask yourself what the racetracks would do?

Figure 1 - Brick and Mortar Racino vs. Internet Casino -   Effect on horse racing.

I don't know how this I-Gaming bill was hatched but I do know that racetracks seem pleased with it and are not helping to change it.  This bill needs to be changed!  I-Gaming is the "next big thing" and in the not too distant future will be a huge money maker.   SB 1739 (Racino Bill) will be voted on in the House before May 31st.  Our concern is that if both bills become law, the I-Gaming bill is so lopsided in favor of the racetracks that Racinos may never be built. More information will be forthcoming to each and every one of you in the next several days.  The session ends May 31st.  The IHHA (in conjunction with the ITHA (T-bred Assoc.) is using every possible political asset to draw attention to this stunningly unfair piece of legislation.  Please stay informed and be ready to contact every Senator and Rep. possible to tell them how outrageous and one-sided this bill is.

Dave McCaffrey

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

SUPPORT GAMING EXPANSION-SB1739 (Link/Lang)

NEW GAMING REVENUES TO FUND EDUCATION AND OTHER NEEDED PROGRAMS – CREATES 20,000 NEW JOBS AND SAVES THOUSANDS OF AGRIBUSINESS JOBS IN ILLINOIS

GAMING EXPANSION SUPPORTED BY OVER 62% OF ILLINOIS REGISTERED VOTERS

BACKGROUND

                Last spring, the General Assembly passed major gaming legislation, SB1849, that the Governor vetoed due to needed changes. The Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability in its 2010 report on “Wagering in Illinois” indicates that the “most prominent ideas for improving state revenues include establishing new riverboats near Chicago, increasing the maximum number of gaming positions, and allowing slot machines at racetracks”.  SB1739 will implement this plan and address the Governor’s concern.

PLAN

New Casinos and Gaming Positions

• Provides for 1 Chicago land-based casino [4,000 gaming positions]. Positions could be located at O’Hare and Midway in addition to a downtown facility.
• Provides for 4 new riverboat casinos (land-based optional): Danville (Vermillion Co.), Park City, Waukegan or North Chicago (Lake Co.), a location in South Suburban Cook County (Cook Co.) and Rockford (Winnebago Co.) [1,200 gaming positions per facility]. 
• All riverboat casinos may become land-based.
• Increases gaming positions for casinos from 1,200 positions to 1,600 positions.

New Electronic Gaming (“Racino”)

• Grants electronic gaming positions (slot machines) to the State’s 6 racetracks (“racinos”) – Each Cook County track (Arlington, Hawthorne, and Maywood) is authorized up to 1,200 positions.  Each track outside Cook County is authorized up to 900 positions (Balmoral, Quad City Downs, and Fairmount). Quad City Downs may implement 350 positions initially but may increase to 900 at a later date.  Requires additional dollars to be spent on backstretch workers, university research, State & county fairs, and retired or injured thoroughbred horses, breeder’s programs, increases purses, and other horsemen programs by over $100 million per year. 
• Provides that racetracks must operate live racing opportunities for horsemen.
• Eliminates the casino impact fee; eliminates purse recapture.
• Authorizes ADW for one year after the effective date of the new law.

Ethics

• Provides stronger regulatory controls to Gaming Board
• Prohibits campaign contributions from casinos, racetracks, and the horsemen organizations.

REVENUES TO THE STATE FOR NEEDED PROGRAMS (Estimates from C.O.G.F.A. and Spectrum Gaming Group)

• The Education Assistance Fund is estimated to receive an additional $128m annually. 
• Over $1.2B from new licensing fees will be used to pay down State debt.
• Downstate Agribusiness initiatives will receive an estimated $15M to $20M for county fairs, State Fairground improvements, soil and water conservation, and state cooperative agriculture extensions programs.
• Compulsive Gambling Programs will receive $5M annually (5 times current spending).
• The Depressed Communities Economic Development Fund to receive 5% of casino tax revenues.
• The Latino Community Economic Development Fund to receive 2.5% of casino tax revenues.
• $50M for operations of the Gaming Board for enforcement and regulations

JOBS (Estimates from Spectrum Gaming Group and Department of Agriculture)

The proposal would create an estimated 20,000 new permanent jobs at the casinos and racetracks and an estimated $200 million to $400 million capital investment at these tracks, which would support 4,500 trade organization jobs to construct new casino facilities and remodel the racetracks to operate electronic gaming.  In addition, new casinos will serve as an economic development engine for Illinois, expand our tourism and hospitality industries.  The proposal would support the state’s historic horse racing industry and stem the loss of over 30,000 racing jobs to many other states.

SUPPORTED BY 62% OF REGISTERED VOTERS

According to a newly released poll of 900 Illinoisans across the state, 62 percent of residents support a gaming solution that includes more casinos and the addition of slot machines at racetracks to create more than 20,000 jobs and generate nearly $200 million annually for the State.  The Alexandria, Virginia-based Public Opinion Strategies poll conducted April 10-12 shows that 74 percent of residents overwhelmingly back legislation to expand gaming to help generate new revenue and jobs, as opposed to increasing taxes or cutting government programs.

The survey found that job creation resulting from the bill resonated most with Illinois residents, with 70 percent more likely to support a gaming solution, knowing the economic benefits.

GAMING EXPANSION- SUPPORTED BY

• Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce
• Arlington International Racecourse
• Balmoral Park Racetrack
• Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council
• Chicago and Downstate Roofing Contractors
• Chicago Barn to Wire
• Chicago Federation of Labor
• Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters
• Chicago Rockford International Airport
• Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce
• Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
• City of Chicago
• City of Danville
• City of Loves Park
• City of Rockford
• City of South Beloit
• Collinsville Chamber of Commmerce
• Coronado Performing Arts Center
• Cumulus Media
• Discovery Center Museum
• Fairmount Park Racetrack
• Greater O'Hare Regional Business Association
• Greater Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau
• Hawthorne Racecourse
• Illinois AFL-CIO
• Illinois Chapter of the National Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association
• Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association
• Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent Protective Association, Inc.
• Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association
• Illinois Quarter Horse Association
• Illinois Revenue & Jobs Alliance
• Illinois Standardbred Owners & Breeders Association
• Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation
• Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134
• Ironworkers Local #498
• Laborers Local 44
• Laborers' Local #32
• Maywood Park Racetrack
• Next Rockford
• Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association (NIBCA)
• Northern Illinois Electrical Contractors Association
• Northwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council
• Operating Engineers Local 399
• Painters District Council
• Palatine Chamber of Commerce
• Park City City Hall
• Plumbers and Gas Fitters Local 360
• Quad City Downs Racecourse
• RAVE
• Rockford Area Arts Council
• Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Rockford Area Economic Development Council
• Rockford Area Hotel Motel Association
• Rockford Art Museum
• Rockford Chamber of Commerce
• Rockford Dance Company
• Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning
• Rockford Park District
• Rockford Register Star
• Rockford Symphony Orchestra
• Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce
• Service Employees International Union Local 1
• Sheet Metal Workers Local #219
• South Suburban Mayors and Managers
• Teamsters Joint Council 25
• The National Independent Concessionaires Association
• The Outdoor Amusement Business Association
• Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Union- Local No. 750
• United Way of the Rock River Valley
• UniteHere! Local 1
• UniteHere! Local 450
• Village of Machesney Park
• Village of Pecatonica
• Village of Rockton
• Village of Roscoe
• Village of Winnebago
• WIFR
• Winnebago County
• WREX
• WTVO

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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

The Race Begins And We're Off to a Good Start!

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Illinois Senate passed SB 1739 (the gaming bill) by a vote of 32-20.  So, one-third of the process is completed.  Now the bill goes to the House where it will be voted on before May 31.   If it passes the House, Governor Quinn will hopefully sign this bill as it includes many of the changes he asked for that were lacking in the two previous bills he vetoed.

Let's hope the whole process ends with the same result of today's Senate vote.

Dave McCaffrey

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Monday, April 29, 2013

OUR NOSE IS ON THE GATE … AGAIN

SB 1739 (this year's version of the gaming bill) is likely to be voted on in the Senate within the next 10 days.   Although nothing is official, we are hearing that the Internet Gaming (I-Gaming) part of the bill is going to be removed.   As a reminder, the IHHA opposed the Internet Gaming provision because no money from I-Gaming was directed to purses.   So far, the "slots at tracks" part of this bill is the same as the last two bills that passed the legislature. 

Of course, passing the bill out of the Senate is the first step in a three step process.   If the bill passes the Senate, then it goes to the House; if it passes the House then it gets sent to Governor Quinn for his signature.  To make a racing comparison, SB 1739 is like a horse we've qualified and is ready to race.   The qualified horse, like SB 1739 is ready to go.   We win when the governor signs the bill.   The race starts now.   The IHHA will keep posting updates as the next few weeks unfold. Good luck to all of us!

- Dave McCaffrey

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Friday, April 12, 2013

Tracks and ADW Providers Must Share Internet Gaming Revenue

Save Jobs. Support Illinois Agriculture.

Statement from the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, and the Illinois Horsemen Benevolent & Protective Association

Horse racing tracks and ADW providers, which conduct online wagering on horse racing, are poised to offer casino-style games solely because of their association with horse racing.

But under Senate Bill 1739, tracks and advance deposit wagering (ADW) providers would not be required to share a dime of Internet gaming revenue with purses. The addition of Internet gaming would provide no benefit for the hard-working men and women who actually make horse racing possible.

The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, and the Illinois Horsemen Benevolent & Protective Association call on the Illinois Senate to amend SB 1739 to require track owners and ADW providers to share Internet gaming revenue with purses, just as tracks would share revenue from slot machines.

For more than a decade, Illinois lawmakers have contemplated allowing tracks to offer casino-style games as a means to generate additional revenue to support purses. When this revenue supports purses, Illinois horse racing will more adequately compete against racing in other states. And when horsemen stay and race in Illinois, they support not just the people who will directly lose out if the legislation is not changed, but also more than 35,000 jobs throughout the Illinois agricultural economy, from veterinarians to feed and hay suppliers.

When horsemen stay and race in Illinois, they benefit our state's horse trainers, breeders and owners, as well as our jockeys, drivers and backstretch workers.

We fully support allowing tracks and ADW providers to offer casino-style games online as a means to support purses. But let's remember that tracks and ADW providers would earn this gaming privilege solely because of their association with horse racing. Generating additional revenue to bolster purses - to save horse racing, preserve jobs, and support Illinois agriculture - is the entire point of letting tracks and ADW providers venture into casino-style gaming.

Unless Senate Bill 1739 is amended to require tracks and ADW providers to share Internet gaming revenue with purses, the proposal threatens to radically diminish Illinois horseracing and, in the process, cost thousands of middle class and lower-income workers their jobs, harming the best interests of the state of Illinois and its taxpayers.

Revenue from Internet gaming hosted by horse racing tracks and ADW operators should bolster purses to support the men and women who make racing possible: horse trainers, owners and breeders, and jockeys, drivers and backstretch workers.

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Monday, April 8, 2013

A New Gaming Bill and a New Problem

With spring comes warmer temps and yet another gaming bill in the state legislature.  The latest bill is SB 1739.  We are told this bill will fix some of the problems (not horse racing related) that the governor had with previous bills.  The good part of SB 1739 is that the racino part of the bill is essentially the same as the racino part of the two previous bills that passed both the House and the Senate but were vetoed by Governor Quinn.  The bad part of this new bill and the reason for this correspondence is that it legalizes Internet Gaming (I-Gaming) and gives the racetracks and the current ADW license’s an option to attain an Internet gaming license.  Why is that bad?  Because Illinois horsemen are not included in any potential future revenues from the internet gaming piece of this new bill. What appears crystal clear to us is that the only reason why racetracks and ADW companies exist in Illinois today is because of their relationship with horse racing. The idea that they are being considered for an I-Gaming license without sharing revenue with horsemen is unfathomable. The IHHA and the ITHA (Thoroughbred Association) believe that SB 1739 as is currently written regarding Internet Gaming has the potential to kill horse racing. Yes, you read that right.  Without significant change, it potentially could end horse racing in Illinois.

We think the brick and mortar “racino” model that is in SB 1739 and took months and months of intense negotiations will be destroyed by SB 1739.  Consider the following current options handed to racetracks in this new bill. On the one hand, racetracks would have to spend upwards of a hundred million dollars to build a brick and mortar racino, pay tens of millions of dollars to license and purchase the slot machines, pay tens of millions more in gambling taxes, and then share the profits of that revenue stream from those slot machines with horsemen.  Additionally, recapture would end with the first dollar generated from slot machines at tracks.  On the other hand, in this current proposed SB 1739, racetracks can spend a fraction of the racino cost and own an internet casino.  Racetracks (internet gaming licensees) would only be required to pay $20 million of their future taxes up front.  They would not have to spend hundreds of millions to build brick and mortar racino facilities.  They would pay less in taxes on internet wagers than they would on racino wagers.  They would not have to share any portion of their revenues with horsemen, nor would they have to guarantee that racing continue, nor would they have to end their purse crippling practice of taking money away from horsemen in the form of recapture.  Simply stated, the current version of SB1739 is the death of horse racing in Illinois.  

If horsemen are expected to support this legislation then we will insist on the same benefits from an internet casino as we would from a brick and mortar casino.  In fact, because the entry point into internet gaming is so much less than the brick and mortar cost, we believe that our revenue share should see a substantial increase in percentage. 

In a letter to his membership, Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President Mike Campbell wrote, "Unless SB 1739 is amended to require Arlington to share (I-gaming) revenue with purses, the proposal threatens to radically diminish Illinois horseracing and, in the process, cost thousands of middle class and lower-income workers their jobs, harming the best interests of the state of Illinois and its taxpayers."

The IHHA agrees with Mike Campbell.  So, what is it that we want?   SB 1739 needs to be changed.   Either the Internet Gaming language needs to be completely taken out of the bill or it needs to be changed to accommodate horsemen.  Over the next few weeks, our two organizations will work arm in arm to have the I-gaming part of the bill changed; if it does not get fixed, horsemen cannot sit idly by and witness another recapture-type effort pass under our noses.  

As we get closer to the end of the legislative session (May 31), we will provide regular updates.   Please stay informed.

Dave McCaffrey

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Monday, April 8, 2013

Harness Horsemen give the gift of education

Big Tom Scholarship worth $5,000

The IHHA is once again proud to administer a $5,000 college scholarship this year sponsored by a donation from Tom Lewandowski, generously given at the IHHA Hall Of Fame banquet and John and Jolene Leahy, who donated a 2013 breeding to Jereme's Jet which was auctioned off at the 2012 Walker Sale in August of last year.  100% of the proceeds from that breeding have gone toward the "Big Tom IHHA Scholarship Fund" to provide needed financial assistance for worthy students. Call the IHHA office at 630-323-0808 to have an application sent to you or simply click here to download one.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Harness Horsemen International is now accepting applications for the 25th annual Jerome L. Hauck Scholarship. The application deadline is May 1, 2013.

The $4,000 award is granted to a son or daughter of a full-time Standardbred groom, or the son or daughter of a member of an HHI-affiliated association.

The HHI Scholarship Foundation was organized in 1986 in memory of Jerome L. Hauck, one of the founders of HHI who served as its president for 12 years.  The Foundation seeks to assist students exhibiting outstanding achievement among their peers, and to promote higher education and citizenship.

The award is given to a student who has demonstrated exceptional scholarship, citizenship, and leadership, who has completed high school or its equivalent and is entering college for the first time.  Character and personality traits are also reviewed in the selection process, and financial need is a consideration as well.

Applications must be received in the HHI office by May 1, 2013.  For more information or an application, contact your local horseman’s association or HHI at 319 High Street, Suite 2, Burlington, NJ 08016, (609) 747-1000, or email dhartmannhhi@verizon.net.

Note: For Illinois Horsemen this is a different scholarship then our annual "Big Tom" scholarship which is for Illinois horsemen only. That scholarship information will be available April 1. This Jerome Hauck scholarship is available to all HHI-affiliated associations, which Illinois is a part of. We encourage all students to apply for this as well.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association has made some changes and additions to our 2013 health insurance program. After lengthy discussions we have decided to incorporate qualified Illinois breeders and their employees for possible addition to our health insurance plan. Just as with the current eligible horsemen, a strict criterion has been set up for this category. Since this is a new classification to our health insurance program, every person that applies will be subject to acceptance only after a complete and thorough inquiry by the IHHA insurance committee and final IHHA board approval. On the left side of this website, harnessillinois.com, under navigation, click insurance and then eligibility. If you believe the new “breeders” category may apply to you and you are interested, call us at 630-323-0808. Thank you for being a part of Illinois Harness Racing.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

SB 1739 has been put on hold for right now. The bill passed out of committee on Wednesday, even though there was some opposition related to the addition of I-gaming and the removal of some of the items that would benefit downstate and metropolitan programs. The bill is expected to be amended in the coming weeks. We will report as soon as we know something concrete.

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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Whole New View For Horseracing Fans

Drivers asked to explain their performance, good or bad; unparalleled transparency brought to Chicago racing.

The Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association (IHHA) this Friday, will unveil unprecedented between-race interviews that promise to revolutionize the way that fans handicap and understand harness racing in Chicago.

“I hope racing fans tune in to the Maywood Park signal on Friday,” said IHHA President David McCaffrey. “There are no other horseman’s associations or racetracks going behind the scenes like we are, doing immediate post-race interviews with drivers and trainers.”

The IHHA board decided during the summer to pursue post-race interviews with drivers in order to help fans understand why drivers make certain decisions on the track and to explain extraordinary circumstances.

“If a horse is the favorite to win a race and he races terribly and finishes last, I think fans want to know what’s going on,” said McCaffrey. “It could be something as simple as a piece of paper in the track that spooks a horse and causes him to break stride or a knee boot that comes loose and impedes the horse’s gait. Either way, the fans deserve an explanation.”

By bringing the drivers into the living room, the IHHA hopes that the public will become more engaged and will use the interviews when they handicap races. The board also hopes that the interviews will bring more transparency to the sport. To that end, fans will eventually be able to submit questions via Facebook and Twitter.

“There are a lot of factors on the track,” said IHHA board member and driver Marcus Miller. “A driver might get boxed in or there could be an equipment malfunction. Drivers make mistakes sometimes too. But the public needs an explanation. We need them to know that we’re honest out there.”

The concept is similar to what fans of other sports are accustomed to seeing in post-game interviews. Jeremey Day will be conducting the post race interviews. Day is co-host of the North American Harness Update and a Daily Racing Form Harness handicapper for Balmoral Racetrack. Drivers will be asked about their performance on the track and given the chance to explain what happened.

“We want to address the questionable parts of the race,” said Day. “If a driver’s strategy seems questionable or there was an equipment malfunction, we’re going to look at the replay and talk about what happened on the track.”

For the past month, the IHHA has been conducting generic interviews with trainers and drivers. A collection of these interviews can be found on the Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association YouTube channel. IHHA board member Bernie Paul said that these interviews will be different.

“These aren’t going to be fluff interviews. We want the tough questions,” said Paul. “We ask NFL quarterbacks about why they threw an interception or ran a specific play. Racing fans deserve that same kind of transparency.”

The first driver interviews will be conducted on Friday, December 7th at Maywood Park.

“Fans are going to be surprised,” said Paul. “This is a whole new approach to the sport. We think this will really help with handicapping and give fans a better understanding of the entire game.”

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Friday, July 20, 2012

In our never ending drive to educate our legislators and entertain our fans, the IHHA has uploaded the first batch of videos to the “IHHA YouTube channel.” You can see them here: www.youtube.com/theharnessillinois. We’ve also posted links on Facebook and Twitter.