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Saturday, February 28, 2015 The following message comes from Denny P., one of the all-time great ambassadors for Illinois harness racing. I was out in the pasture with one of the mares that will be foaling soon and I realized that that was why I'm in the horse business. I know many of us can't afford to breed this year with the current purse structure and bleak forecast for yearling sales in Illinois for 2015. I am offering anyone a free breeding for 2015 to "Ideal Towne" for the 2015 breeding season to anyone in Illinois. If you are interested just call Karen Brown at 1 (815) 503-2386. "Towne" is at her farm in Mendota IL. The breeding is live cover only. No shipped semen. Any boarding fees will be payable to Karen at a very reasonable rate. For those of you that can afford to make a donation of any kind please make it to the IHHA PAC Fund. We all need something to look forward to if we are going to stay in this business. For me nothing lifts my spirits like the anticipation of foaling season. A field of open mares is the most depressing thing I can think of for a breeder. Worst case scenario is we have a fair circuit to look forward to until all the chips fall. Bless ya'll. ============================================================= Friday, February 27, 2015 We wanted to let everyone know that in Governor Rauner’s recent proposed budget for the State of Illinois, appropriations for the Illinois Standardbred Breeders and Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders funds were cut. These “Standardbred Breeders Funds” are used to provide purses for races at the Illinois State Fair, the DuQuoin State Fair and over 30 county fairs throughout Illinois as well as for purse supplements at the pari-mutuel tracks. As budget discussions continue, the IHHA will try to repair this situation. We encourage Governor Rauner to restore the funding to the FY15 levels. We are also taking this opportunity to educate the Governor on who we are, what these funds are specifically used for and how our industry enhances the agribusiness in this state. Stand by for updates. ============================================================= Friday, February 27, 2015 The General Assembly is in the early stages of its Spring session but “slots at the racetracks” talk has already begun. Click here for more. http://www.bnd.com/2015/02/24/3678217/slots-at-fairmount-state-lawmaker.html =========================================================== Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Announcement to IHHA Membership: It is with extremely mixed emotions that the IHHA announces the driving retirement of Dave Magee. Effective in the next couple of weeks, Dave will undertake a position as an associate judge at Hoosier Park's meet which begins in March. On the one hand, Dave's leaving is sad as it marks the end of an era in Illinois racing and the end to one of the greatest driving careers in harness racing history. On the other, Dave Magee's name is synonymous with the word "integrity" so becoming a judge is a natural fit and a great opportunity for him. In a business filled with petty bickering and stiff competitiveness, Dave is extraordinarily popular. And his popularity is not a coincidence; he has always risen above trouble and controversy, carried himself with great dignity, and represented the sport with unparalleled grace. He currently has 11,868 career wins and the horses he has driven have earned over $101,000,000 in his career which began in 1972. He represented the United States twice and won the World Driving Championship in 1995. He's won practically every major race there is to win in Illinois and numerous driving titles at most Illinois racetracks. He served many years as an IHHA Board Director. He's a member of the IHHA Hall Of Fame and the USTA Hall Of Fame. Although this announcement reads a bit obituary-like, make no mistake - at age 61, Dave is as dynamic, sharp, vibrant and energetic as ever. He is extremely enthusiastic about his new position and will undoubtedly excel at it. The IHHA thanks Dave for everything over the last 40 years - the continuous honest efforts and thrills on the track and the countless smiles and many friendships off of it. We wish nothing but the best for Dave, his wife Cathy, and the rest of his family as he ends one chapter of his life and starts another. Happy Trails Dave! Dave McCaffrey ============================================================= Friday, February 20, 2015 Horsemen teach Chicago high school studentsJuniors and seniors try their hand in the driver’s seatHINSDALE, Ill. – Juniors and seniors from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences took the reins this month at Maywood Park in Chicago’s near west suburbs when they job-shadowed local Standardbred trainers for a day. All students participating in the shadow days are seniors and juniors who gain hands on experience by working directly with trainers and horses. High School Junior Paulina Arellano studies animal science and hopes to one day work in the horse racing industry. Paulina said that during her trip she and the other students “learned a lot about what exactly happens to the horses, trainers, and workers off the horse track.” In 2010 The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences embarked on a Standardbred breeding program spearheaded by local horse owner Denny Pietranduono. The school's first yearling was sold in 2013 for $6,200 at public auction. The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association is a vocal supporter of the breeding program at the High School and was eager to help students learn more about horse racing. “It was a great opportunity to spend time with young people who are excited to learn about the horses and the sport,” said IHHA President Dave McCaffrey. “Even though Standardbred trainers are part of the agricultural community in Chicago, we don’t always think about them that way. These students were a reminder that even in a big city, agriculture and agribusiness employs people and supports the economy.”
Trainer Dave McCaffrey gives a student a driving lesson. Credit: Paulina Arellano Arellano said that her favorite part of the trip to Maywood Park was when students were allowed to jog a horse around the track. “To me, it was like heaven,” she said. “Because I love race horses and working with them.” McCaffrey said that the IHHA is excited to participate more with students in the animal science program at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. “It’s great to see the passion in the students’ faces,” he said. “I think it helps remind us of why we got into the business in the first place.” ============================================================= Wednesday, February 4, 2015 Quad City Downs employees say goodbye. Click here for more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday, February 2, 2015 Racing/Bankruptcy update: One time sensitive issue has been resolved. Our concern over our future stakes payments has been alleviated. It has been agreed that Maywood/Balmoral will have a segregated “stakes trust account held for the benefit of the depositor horse owner.” Because of that, we are encouraging anyone wishing to stake a horse, to do so without concern of those future dollars. This money is clearly identified by the bankruptcy court as horsemen money and will be treated as such. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday, January 30, 2015 Racing/Bankruptcy update: On January 28, Maywood and Balmoral Park submitted to the bankruptcy court, as directed, their schedules and financial statements. This process gives the court and the creditors the opportunity to understand and estimate the true value or worth of the business and properties. As we have said before, this is a process. While the weeks and months of this process continue, we have to wait and see how it unfolds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Racing/Bankruptcy Update - January 25, 2015 On Thursday, January 28, materials from Maywood and Balmoral are due to the bankruptcy court. These materials will be collected, sifted through and analyzed by the court and the creditors. That process will take some time; as a result we expect racing to begin as scheduled on January 29. In addition, at this point, we feel confident that racing will continue through at least late winter. Whether and how long we continue racing into 2015 is anyone's guess. One misconception that should be clarified is about bankruptcy itself. Bankruptcy is a PROCESS that unfolds over time; it's not like a trial that happens on a specific date. And, that process can go very quickly or can drag on. How long the process takes depends on the creditors and the bankruptcy court and will ultimately tell the tale of how long we race. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday, January 23, 2015 Dispatch/Argus - Editorial - January 15, 2015 Editorial: As Downs takes final bets, focus must turn to future Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 12:00 am The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus Word that the offtrack betting parlor at Quad City Downs will close its doors Jan. 31 was met this week with little public fanfare. In fact, many we heard from were surprised to learn that it was still in operation. That’s hardly surprising given how little business is being done these days at 5005 Morton Drive, East Moline. The odds clearly are against the survival of what is rapidly becoming the dinosaur of legal state-sanctioned gaming: horse racing. In an email statement earlier this week, Tony Petrillo, the general manager of Arlington International Racecourse which operates 11 Trackside facilities in Illinois, including the Downs, blamed the poor state of the gaming industry in Illinois for the East Moline facility's shuttering. That has included dramatic declines in pari-mutuel wagering since 2001. Arlington is hardly alone. Horse racing is hurting everywhere in Illinois and even around the world as industry insiders endlessly examine what can be done to save it. “Is horse racing entering the final furlong?” the London Telegraph worries. “No, Horse Racing Can’t Be Saved -- Even by a Triple Crown Winner,” The Atlantic warned in May. That hasn’t stopped the champions of the former sport of kings and the lawmakers who support it from trying. In Illinois, for example, proponents recently went all-in on a gaming expansion bill that would have put slot machines at Illinois racetrack sites. Proponents of “racinos” promised, among other things, a return to limited live harness racing at the Downs if the measure became law. It didn’t. East Moline Mayor John Thodos said that on at least three occasions in the past 10 years lawmakers gave Q-C Downs’ supporters hope the track could be revived. A bailout never came and its slow decline, which began when riverboats took to Illinois Q-C waters in 1992, continued to accelerate. The latest blow was approval of those now-ubiquitous video gaming machines robbing revenue not just from race tracks but other state gaming operations including Jumers Casino Rock Island. As for The Downs, though the loss of trackside is awful news for its employees and remaining patrons, it isn’t a huge economic blow to the city of East Moline. The gaming operation hasn’t been much of a government-revenue generator since live racing ended. It pays no gaming taxes to the city and East Moline is likely to see only a small drop in sales tax and utility service fees. That doesn’t make this loss of a piece of Quad Cities history any less sad. The Downs once was a Q-C entertainment destination. It opened its doors with great promise in 1973. Ten years later, it was a thriving and growing asset to the community according to then president and general manager James Patten. He told The Dispatch, “We think of the Quad City Downs as more than just racing and betting. We think it should be and is something more than an entertainment center. We think the Downs should help the community.” That was a long time ago and these days, a drive by The Downs gives few hints of what it once had to offer. Soon even the off-track wagering will be gone. Though it’s hard to gauge what a new Illinois General Assembly and Gov. Bruce Rauner might do about efforts to revive horse-racing in Illinois, the chances for the Downs reopening as a live harness-racing track seem slim, especially as evidence mounts that Illinois has successfully saturated the legal gaming marketplace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday, January 22, 2015 Below is the link to an interview that was on a local Aledo radio station yesterday. It was with Alex Norr, who headed the County Fair Impact Study for the University of Illinois. As we all know, harness racing at many county fairs (33) is a big part of this. This study confirms one of the ways that agribusiness in Illinois works and the impact it can have on stimulating the economy and putting dollars directly back into the communities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Today’s bankruptcy court proceedings concluded with very little new information. There were many rudimentary motions made, such as approval for additional counsel, changes of name and addresses for some creditors, authorization for the debtors to pay their lottery proceeds, adequate payment plan for utilities etc. The court is scheduled to return next week on a matter that at this time has no significance to us. The court has also scheduled a hearing for the following week, January 27th. As we reported yesterday, the motion to extend the deadline to file schedules and statements or provide required information was extended until January 28, 2015. As of now, racing will resume on January 29th. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday, January 12, 2015 Maywood/Balmoral bankruptcy update: Last week, attorneys for Maywood and Balmoral (Debtors) filed a “Motion for extension of deadlines to file schedules and statements.” They listed numerous reasons for this request. One of the most significant was because of the size and complexity of the Debtor’s businesses. The bankruptcy judge in this case granted their motion and now the deadline for these filings has been extended through January 28, 2015. As a result and as of now, the IHHA is confident that racing will resume racing on Jan. 29. As time goes on and this unprecedented process moves forward, we will provide updates as they become relevant. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, December 30, 2014 The first bankruptcy hearing for Maywood/Balmoral took place in the United States Bankruptcy Court at the Dirksen Federal Building today. It was, as expected, a brief preliminary hearing. Some procedural motions, made by representatives of the racetracks, were made and passed. They anticipate filing more motions and or requesting for extensions in the following weeks. The IHHA has legal representation at these hearings and is officially considered an interested party by the court. Our attorneys will monitor all future motions and proceedings closely. Again, at this point in time, we expect racing the first four days of January to occur as scheduled. We are also hopeful that after a short break we will resume racing, as scheduled, on January 29. The next court date is currently set for January 13, 2015. We may know more by then and we will provide updates as this complicated process unfolds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Racing Update - Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 On Tuesday Dec. 30, the first bankruptcy hearing for Maywood/Balmoral will take place in a downtown courtroom. This is mostly a preliminary hearing. As such, the IHHA believes with a high degree of probability that racing will be conducted the first four days of January. We are also hopeful that racing will begin as scheduled on January 29. As a reminder, we have a contract with Maywood and Balmoral through June 30, 2015. The Johnston's have indicated that they intend on honoring that contract. As we move forward into 2015, the racing situation will hinge on how bankruptcy proceedings progress. We will convey updates as quickly as we get them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday, December 24, 2014 Maywood and Balmoral filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a little after noon on December 24. As a result, over the next several days and weeks many meetings and court proceedings will occur. Because horse people are an interested party and are affected by certain decisions made by the bankruptcy court, the IHHA will be involved in the proceedings as much as possible. We will keep our membership informed as this process unfolds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, December 23, 2014 Illinois horsemen braved the inclement weather Monday night to attend a General Horsemen’s meeting concerning the “atom bomb” that was dropped on our industry by the recent $78 million verdict against Balmoral and Maywood Parks and one of their chief executive officers. Although all questions were addressed, because of the unique circumstances, many definitive answers were simply unavailable at the time. IHHA President Dave McCaffrey did a superb job of explaining to horsemen the entire plight of the Illinois harness racing situation after a recent jury took only three hours, after a five day trial, to rule in favor of the four riverboats and their lawsuit against Balmoral, Maywood and John Johnston. Nevertheless, McCaffrey went on to tell all, at this time, no one knows what kind of a future is in store for Illinois harness racing. And for that matter, if we’ll even be racing after this weekend. “You can expect Balmoral/Maywood and John Johnston to file for bankruptcy this Wednesday and first day motions will be filed the following Friday or Monday.” “From that point on, the only thing certain regarding Illinois harness racing is that nothing is certain.” “I am confident that we will be racing this weekend. After that, I’m about 70 per cent certain that we’ll race the first four days of January, but that’s a decision the Illinois Racing Board will make,” continued Dave. “We have a contract that we will honor with the two racetracks through June 30. However, the bankruptcy judge may or may not cancel that contract. Right now we just don’t know what the judge will or won’t do.” Lawyers from the IHHA, the two races tracks, the four casinos awarded the $78 million judgment and perhaps other interested parties, will begin filing motions in Bankruptcy Court on the first day of the proceedings. Then sometime between 5 and 15 days thereafter the judge will rule on those motions. At this time the entire future of Illinois harness racing is “up in the air.” A few significant points that McCaffrey tried to explain to the group was that total monies earned for 2015 horsemen’s purses (derived from all mutual handles such as the racetracks, OTB’s, ADW’s, etc.) is expected to total between $11 and $12 million. However, recapture will devour almost $5 million or about 45% of that. It’s possible that future recapture money could also end up in the pockets of the winning riverboats as assets. It’s estimated that about 70 per cent of the 510 horses on the grounds at Balmoral and Maywood and the 300 more at local farms and training centers wouldn’t be able to compete at tracks outside the Chicago circuit. The closing of the two racetrack’s backstretches could also make as many as 350 of those horses homeless and perhaps headed for “death row.” McCaffrey took a stream of questions from the attentive crowd and was able to clear up several queries. Such as: Is the money in their Horseman’s Bookkeeping Services accounts safe from the bankruptcy proceedings? “The HGCA is a separate holding company from the racetracks and purse monies are held safely and securely there in segregated accounts.” What about stake payments made to Balmoral or Maywood for 2015 races? “They could end up with the four winning riverboats as part of the $78 million in awarded assets if the bankruptcy judge decides to go in that direction.” Dave alerted horsemen to hold off on those stake payments for right now. Why can’t we race at Hawthorne? “Quite simply, right now Maywood and Balmoral were awarded harness dates for 2015. Legally they are their dates. Unless the Illinois Racing Board changes that, it is not an option. If the IRB revokes or suspends the license of Maywood and Balmoral, we will look at all of our options.” My gut tells me in some shape or another there will be harness racing in Illinois in 2015. It may look very different and it may have some interruptions but we will race. I’m sure that many horses and their owners hope my gut is right. by Mike Paradise ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday, December 11, 2014 As many of you know by now, a court decision against the ownership of Maywood and Balmoral Park was handed down earlier this week. The judgment against Maywood/Balmoral is unprecedented in it's size and scope and has left the harness horseman of this state in a precarious position. At this point in time, there are plenty of rumors about our future but very few facts that lead us to solutions or clarity. We will do everything in our power to protect the owners, grooms, trainers, drivers, breeders, etc. who have supported the Illinois harness industry for so long and update you as soon as more facts are ascertained. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, October 21, 2014 The IHHA has responded to some recent newspaper "letters to the editor" that were written on behalf of the riverboat industry. The following is our unedited response to those publications. Let’s set the record straightTom Swoik’s recent Op-Ed about slot machines at racetracks is misleading on several fronts. “Special legislation to bail out their industry?” In the early 90’s, legislation that waived the requirement that riverboats cruise off shore was passed with the cooperation of the horse racing industry. In return for their help, the horse racing industry was promised money from the yet to be built 10th riverboat. That law passed and casinos immediately went dockside, establishing their boats as land based casinos and raking in unprecedented amounts of money. The tenth riverboat license was subsequently tied up in courts for years and the horse racing industry was left staggering. “A dying industry?” Horse racing is not a dying industry. Illinois horse racing may be dying but in other states that allow slot machines at their racetracks it is successful and it is flourishing. Sixteen other states currently allow it. Many Illinois horsemen have already left, taking their horses and their team to other states like Indiana where the purses are higher and the opportunity to earn a fair living exists. Horsemen and their stables are similar to other small businesses. They set up their stables where they have the best opportunities for their families and for their horses to succeed. That business success is realized in the form of purses. Those purses have skyrocketed in other states while they continue to fall in Illinois. “Illinois has a saturated gambling market?” Here’s the red herring. These riverboats are simply protecting their own interests, including the Hammond Indiana riverboat that markets to the Chicagoland area. They are simply using the Legislature to block the competition. All we are saying is let us compete in this gaming marketplace, give us the opportunity to compete for those gaming dollars. Let the market dictate what saturation is. These same riverboats that are complaining now will be the same ones lining up to apply for these new licenses. Many of them currently own and operate racetracks around the country that have slot machines. “Casino Cafes” Isn’t it ironic that it is ok for the riverboats to want protection from these “casino cafes” but the horse racing industry is vilified for wanting that protection from the riverboats? Horse Racing has been in existence for over 100 years in this state. It is illogical for anyone to understand how there are these mini casinos on every corner, but a racetrack that supports the horse racing industry and the thousands of verified, middle class jobs that go along with its agribusiness cannot. The casino industry is fond of touting the money that they provide to the state and the jobs that they provide. While those jobs are important and the cash influx is welcome, the impact that horse racing has on Illinois’ overall economy reaches much further. Horse racing stimulates agriculture, Illinois number one economy. Illinois grain and hay farmers find a market for their crops with horsemen. The Illinois horse racing industry impacts blacksmiths, veterinarians, truck and trailer dealers and more, something the casino industry can hardly claim. A robust horse racing industry provides good jobs that support families. In seven months, June of 2015, without any legislative help from the Illinois General Assembly, Maywood Park, one of Chicago’s four racetracks will be the first to close its doors. A racetrack that has been in business since 1946, a business that has allowed horsemen to ply their trade and earn a living. The jobs that will be lost, the upheaval of the lives of all the backstretch workers who work and live there and the economic impact of that closure will be felt throughout Illinois. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Today, the Illinois Racing Board, decided on the 2015 racing dates. Maywood/Balmoral has a signed contract with the IHHA that supports racing being conducted 2 days a week at Maywood and 2 days at Balmoral from Jan. 29 to June 30, 2015 and includes a dark period at the beginning of the year from Jan. 5 to Jan. 28. At the evidentiary hearing 10 days ago, both sides agreed to support that contract. The second half of the year is where the difference of opinion occurred. The racetracks requested zero days of racing at Maywood for the last six months of the year and two days a week at Balmoral during that same period. The IHHA testified that it seemed logical that if positive legislation indeed did pass then Maywood should race at least one day per week for the final six months of the year. The IRB today ruled in favor of the schedule for the first six months of the year but also ruled that Maywood should race two days a week for the second half of the year if legislation passes. They stated for the record that if no legislative help came to the industry then they would give strong consideration to allowing Maywood to vacate those two days for the final six months, which was basically the IHHA’s position from the start. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday, September 22, 2014 Chicago High School of Agriculture Sciences perseveres with help from one of Illinois great harness ambassadors. Click here for more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Carol Marin reports on the state of harness racing in Illinois. Click here for the video which aired last night in Chicago. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, July 8, 2014 This is an interesting press release written by the RCI (Racing Commissioners International) If A-Rod Was a Horse, He Wouldn't Be Allowed to Race LEXINGTON, KY - New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez is the latest example to surface underscoring how the "no doping" policies in horse racing are tougher than other sports that deploy a process to allow the hidden use of performance enhancing substances in competition. "If Alex Rodriguez was a horse he would not be allowed to race," said Ed Martin, President of the Association of Racing Commissioners International. According to a new book by Tim Elfrink and Gus Garcia-Roberts, "Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis and the Quest to End Baseball's Steroid Era", the baseball great was granted permission from Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2007 to play while receiving prohibited treatments of testosterone. "Other sports and the Olympics allow therapeutic use exemptions which allow athletes to compete under the undisclosed influence of prohibited substances if they apply with the required medical request. In racing, we require that horses be scratched and not allowed to participate. It's a big difference that many people overlook," Martin said. According to the book, 1,354 MLB players were tested in 2007 and exemptions to 111 players were allowed by the league to compete with undisclosed prohibited performance enhancing substances. "Those who bet on baseball games in Vegas may want to shift their action to racing," Martin said, noting that Furosemide is the only substance allowed in a horse on race day and its use is almost ubiquitous in North America and disclosed to the public in the program. While acknowledging that horse racing, like every sport, has a drug challenge, Martin said racing has a very aggressive anti-doping program and does not permit the undisclosed backdoor use of prohibited substances. "The Therapeutic Use Exemptions that were granted Lance Armstrong for the 1999 Tour de France and Alex Rodriguez would never be approved in racing. Are we concerned about the use of legal substances in horses being trained? Absolutely. But we test for them and a host of other things in post-race samples. If we find them at levels that can affect performance, charges are brought. As far as doping is concerned, it is not allowed." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday, May 28, 2014 The General Assembly will be adjourning this week and it appears unlikely that our "jobs" bill, the gaming bill will be called. As we have repeated far too many times, there is politics happening in Springfield that is really out of our control. The entire horse racing industry, as well as numerous other groups, (to see the full fact sheet, click below) want to see the original SB1739 called with just the added stronger regulatory concerns that the Governor requested. However, once again, we are told "it's not the right time yet." Pensions issues (City of Chicago and the State) are still not solidified, the income tax hike passed in 2011 sunsets this year and our budget for the fiscal year is still being debated. These are a few of the reasons being reported to us as to why? Like it or not, believe it or not, these are still the answers. And yes, we do ask legislators, when is it our turn to do what 15 other states have done to save their horse racing industries and all the jobs that go with it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday, February 10, 2014 Click here to see the negative consequence of recapture on Illinois horseman. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
