2006 Survey Comments

v One of the many problems with Il. Racing is the condition sheet. There are no opportunities to start a young ICF horse. Five years ago the majority of races were ICF races. Now there are none. The quality of racing in IL has declined because of this. With no chance to teach a young horse. Something the majority of them are sold for a loss than true value. If the money is there to write 20 per week NW claimers they should be able to write ICF maidens through at least ICF/NW3. Also, with cutting Maywood down to two nights a week why can’t they add three races a night, Thursday, Friday’s. Why exactly does Balmoral have 4 nights & Maywood 2 anyway?

v Stringent testing to ensure all horses safety!

IHHA to support horse placement after racing to help ensure the integrity & ethics of the sport!

Stronger penalties directed at those who break the rules!

Route out dishonesty in all areas of racing!

v I would favor Maywood Park Dark, for the rest of eternity. As long as there is split racing between Balmoral & Maywood good horses and good bettors will go elsewhere.

v I see such a decline in attendance of late. Race track officials should reach out more in advertising.

v Put up pay-outs before winner circle activities. Why the 3-5 minute delay?

v I strongly believe we need to cut down on racing days per week and have a break from Thanksgiving to after Christmas.

v Every charge stops here (the owner) trainer fees, vet fees, blacksmith, paddocks, medications, drivers fees, trainers commission, stall rent, shipping, workman’s comp. fees. The average horse has to gross $27,000 to break even. Look at the program for the six day card – How many are breaking even. For the “Sport of Kings” – the Kings are dwindling.

v If things don’t change pretty soon horsemen like me won’t be able to race horses. Everything goes up in prices and purse money stays the same. Can’t make ends meet. As far as I’m concerned the track can stay dark all year. I might be forced out of business.

v Driver’s fees are important to drivers. There probably wouldn’t be an issue if purses were higher. Drivers in the top 5 or 6, this wouldn’t affect the poor guys in the bottom it affects a lot.

v Raise the purses, so we can afford to own horses!

v Get slots – all major racing states in U.S. will have slot money to supplement horse racing purses; Illinois should also.

v Condition sheets need restructuring. Eliminations should have higher purses.

v Ten races a day at Maywood, but bring back the three days a week; as an owner, this is what I’d like. If I can’t race each week, I am gone.

v No more than 8 horses at fairs. Maywood for years only raced 8, why have 10 horse fields at unsafe fairs?

v Need better testing of horses like the Meadowlands. Need gambling at tracks so purses can be raised.

v County fairs should not race more than 8 horses!!! It’s dangerous.

v Drivers Fees: I think if a horse earns purse money a fee with some minimum is appropriate. I don’t like finishing out of the money and paying for what is sometimes a lackluster effort!

v The driver should get 50% of the winnings of the horse for each race. If the owner receives no money why the driver should be guaranteed $25.00!

If there is a two week break, then the tracks should not charge stall rent. If there is a two week breaks, who is going to pay for the owner’s expenses if he has no income, the IHHA!!

v Whatever testing is needed to improve racing and keep the dishonest people from destroying our integrity.

v It would be nice to have no trailers, except it only really works out if there is and even spit.

If the minimum drive stays at $25, it should be split 50/50 with the trainer (6-last) a flat 5% for 1-5 should be given, not 5% or $25 whatever’s greater.

v If purse were increased then would favor taking a brake.

v No.2 Clarify what kind of trailer Horse Trailer or Camping Trailer

v Regarding #2, a maximum of 2 trailers is all that should be allowed.

v County fairs should be scheduled later in the afternoon, so people can come after work to see them.

v I would propose drivers be compensated at a reduced $15 level at the $5,000 purse level or less. No driver fees for stakes races. We’re the last venue in the U.S. that has driver fees.

v If the drivers didn’t receive a fee maybe some of them would learn there is more than one way to drive! Not just full throttle!

v No racing on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Good time to restart racing would be January 1^st. (Don’t stop for Super Bowl-who cares?)

v Need to work harder to get increased purses.

v If continue driver’s fee, if owner felt driver was at fault should have right to revoke fee.

v I am considering, very strongly, from leaving the business. I have owned horses for seventeen years in Illinois. I have employed trainers who play by the rules. They cannot compete with those who do not. I am tired of the miraculous 4 or 5 second turnaround of some horses. The “newshoes” and the “puppy in the barn” crap just doesn’t hold water. We have to do something to restore racing integrity!

v Re: Drug testing… there were flagrant violations of drug in horses at County Fairs this summer and nothing done about it. As an owner I would be willing to pay an extra fee to have this done on all starters. When trotters can go in 2:03 and pacers go in 1:59 and faster on county fair one-half track then go to Springfield and Du Quoin where they check and cannot get a fifth place it does not take a rocket scientist to know something is wrong. Thank You. Francis Greer.

v Question2 –What type of trailers (horse) Do the areas have room? Should be left up to fair management. Accommodate when able. Ques. #4 If more than 10 races/card make post time=race time not 3-5 minutes later. Ques. #5 The issue wouldn’t be so big if more backbone, less favoritism & bias were implemented by those in charge. Do the crime-Do the time –“No” exceptions.

v Lessen time between races. Eliminating trailers at county fairs will set harness racing backwards as it will limit the “show” We have to be fan friendly and be willing to have competitive racing!

v Have break at Springfield-DuQuoin race meets, race them at night, and show them like Maywood-Balmoral races, with IL. bred overnights mixed in with stake races; less confusing for horseman, and it will race a few overnight horse from Chicago, It’ll build up interest in the fairs, also, build up purse account.

v Start weekday races same as Sunday races -6:30PM.

v Keep pushing for racing at Fairmont. Push for racing at IL. fairgrounds, April, May, June, all facilities are there!!

v Quest. #2 No more than 2 trailers. Quest #6 Make the brake 6 weeks, Dec. 15^th thru Feb. 1^st.

v Illinois is the only state that pays all drivers. This should stop. Only if the horse earns money should the driver be paid. Quest. # 5 – The state and tracks should pay for testing. We have already given up 52 of our allotted racing dates for 2006 by not racing on Mondays. The less we race, the more recapture we owe to the track owners. Most important thing to help harness racing is to get rid of recapture!!! This is the worst law on the books.

v Quest. #3C No one should work for free; I am a trainer not a driver. I think we should take a month off in the winter, from Dec. 23-Jan. 23^rd to freshen up the horses, and the attitudes of horsemen and gamblers.

v Feel you should go back to 7 days a week of racing. If someone needs a few days off they don’t have to enter their horses.

v Top 5 drivers paid $25.00 or 5% need same # races as 7 day schedule, if we do not race on Mondays.

v Start at 6:30PM –Why does the Racing Board NOT listen to horsemen?

v Agree to ques. #5, if the detention time would be cut down due to the pre-racing testing.

v As for the driver’s fee I think they should be $5 or better. It should make for better racing – the driver will not be trying to kill your horse.

v I think we should race only 5 days a week all year.

v Purse distribution should pay all horses that race.

v Keep up the good work you are doing.

v I agree to the break days if it would help the purse structure.

v Saturday was a failure.

v The inside the pylon rule needs to be enforced – the betting public is tired of interpretations – inside a pylon is a violation – period – unless the horses is forced to avoid an accident.

v Quest # 5 I think pre-race testing is a must.

v Quest #4, As many races as you can get starting at 6:30pm.

v Post time should be moved up to 7pm; the number of races Tues, Wed & Thurs should be 10; number of races Fri=12, Sat.=14, Sun=12 with 6:30 start.

v A horse with a positive test should not be able to race – horse given same amount of time as the trainer gets.

v If a trainer gets set down, the horse should also get set down.

v Horses should get the same time off as the trainer gets!!!

v A two week or more break according to the low handle time of year.

v 6:30 post on all days; suspend the horse that tests positive to end the musical chair game with trainers.

v “Winter break” would be fine; runners have taken one for many years. 12 races, but let’s allow the starting “post Time” to move up to 6:30-6:40pm – (maybe the customer will be able to bet more races).

v When par mutual started there was to be no colt races during the summer when fairs were on.

v What is the purpose of having the IRB, if they can’t or won’t protect the integrity of racing? I find it downright embarrassing when asked why are trainers and owners allowed to race when they are barred from tracks elsewhere.

v If we are going to have 12-15 races per night, let’s start at 6:30pm, so our fans can get home before midnight.

v Use website for minutes of meetings. Also, for monthly treasurer’s reports.

v As long as we continue to “welcome” positive test horses and trainers into IL., maybe they should pay for their own tests! EPO positive – owner and trainer license suspended for 90 days!

v I would like to see a large break in the winter. We have oversaturated the market by racing year round. Less dates with more races per date would be a better system.

v Keep working! I know you are trying.

v We need to improve tracks for the patrons (slots are certainly needed) we need to have a better repoire with track management.

v Owners should access to health insurance through IHHA plan.; IHHA should be aggressive in aiding the IRB in weeding out trainers who utilize P.E.D.; No more worthless newsletters like this last one. A Waste of trees; Go to bat for members against the tracks when fiascos happen like the “summer series” this yea.

v Post Time should be 7:40 not 8:20 East Coast bettors get home after 1am. I am an owner living on the East Coast.

v Saturday Matinees – Balmoral is not equipped for the two race card – not enough room in paddock!!!

v Thank you – Keep up the good work!!

v If taking a longer break in the winter months Jan & Feb would help raise minimum purse up near $4000, I’m all in favor of that.

v Pre-race testing on every horse in each race.

v Please work to unite with the Thoroughbred Industry and racetracks. Horse racing must consolidate its efforts in order to move through any positive legislation.

v If driver’s fee is kept, it should be reduced for races less than $5,000.

v If a driver can’t live on 5% he should find another occupation. Trainers get no guarantee when they race and they have more time invested than drivers. Sure they get a training bill, but that is for training the horses in the morning. Driver 5% of purse achieved, Trainers 5% of purse achieved; the only way it should be.

v Less race days, less races, more money in purses. Stricter penalties for the cheaters, better marketing. Let’s buy Sportsman Park with the state and have a Meadowlands type racetrack.

v Trainers get straight 5% and they do a lot more when it comes to warm-up. If drivers can’t live on 5% get a job, the rest of the country it’s 5%. Races should start 6:30-7:00; get in step with the Eastern bettor.

v Horsemen should participate in the cost. Only if they levy heavy fines on those with positive test. Make fines enough to cover testing.

v No more than 8 horses at fairs per heat. New rules and penalties have to be implemented. Quest. #6 favor break from racing depending on the conditions and no loss of revenue (recapture!!!).

v I think $10 is enough minimum or 5%.

v Quest. # 4, Max. number of race = what the paddock can hold. Quest. #6, you want 2 or 4 weeks off take it. Quest. #5 pre-race test only to get rid of 90 minute post race. Only the losers lose in Indiana.

v 5 Days Wed-Sat-Sun Blm. 2-Day Th-Fri May. No Hawthorne – poor paddock-racing surface.

v Racing in the afternoon on Saturdays would be fine, but I believe there are not enough horses to race double headers.

v Racing afternoon’s only on Saturdays. No double headers, not enough horses.

v Race afternoon only on Saturday not enough horses for doubleheaders.

v Having a break in winter will be hard to get back in gear. The last week in January. The two coldest weeks of the year, better.

v Starting time needs to be moved to 7:00.

v If horse tested positive the cost of test should be charged to owner/trainer. A break around the holidays would be nice so horsemen could spend time with family and not have to choose between horses/family.

v Make a list of every dollar spent available on your website every month. You are using my purse money, so I would like to know where it is going. Thanks for asking.

v I think driver should be paid for finishing 1-5.

v If the Chicago Bears played every week of the year, how successful would their product be? Illinois needs a racing season similar to the Meadowlands. As an owner, I want to race for the largest purses possible…which in IL means fewer racing dates.

v You should enforce the suspensions and a more severe penalty for the trainers who use illegal pre-race medications.

v I think it is the IRB responsibility to make laws and enforce them to test horses and govern all horse racing. If too many branches of horse racing are involved in making the rules – laws – we will no be able to change anything (well you all agreed). Owners and trainers put on the show. We have a hard time making ends meet as it is. When a law is unreasonable, the horsemen need stand up and say this will not go. If three horsemen agree, and three do not agree, with a rule, the IRB will take the one they like and it’s called you agreed. We cannot live without governing laws and rules.

v Quest. #4 Indiana has 15 when racing 4 nights. Quest # 5 (Pre-race testing cost) Anything to get things corrected. Quest # 6 Agreeable to a 2 month break. Question#2 9 & 10 horse fields are to many on most county fair tracks. Limiting to 2 trailers would cause too many divisions and very small purse/division. Quest #3 – Not fond of most drivers’ ability to do their jobs. Even I can make the horse go all they can go. However, sometimes they do not have a choice in what they drive and I’m sure not crazy about doing this. If owners/trainers can not pay $25.00 drive then maybe they should not have the horse.

v More testing and less lenient on those with multiple positives! Try to rebuild the integrity of this sport because right now there is none!

v Quest #4 Max. # of races should be whatever the bettors will support. Do our betting customers want us to take a break? Dates should be consistent day by day, week by week and year by year to implant a dependability image.

v Ques#4 Max. # of races should be whatever bettors will support. Ques#6 Break time – consistency is a good thing. Like the earlier start time of 7:00 but would like for it to be another 30 minutes or so earlier. More people (bettors) could possibly stay for more races. Also horsemen could get home a little sooner. How about coffee and/or ice water made available in the little TV room at Balmoral? (compliments of IHHA).

v Need more trot races. N/W 2 jump to N/W 4 to N/W 6500 or often (Harsh).

v Trainer should not be allowed to have multiple horses in claims races, or condition races. Should only race 5 nights a week January – April, October-December. Random drug testing of all horses in selected races each night; not announced until post time. Also, all claimed horses should be subject to drug testing.

v We need a downstate track – best possibility get a winter meet at Fairmont.

v As to ques#5 Only a nominal service charge no more than 5%.

v I am an owner of harness horses and I think we need to do everything to increase the purse structure. This is a business to me, and a livelihood to others. I am under 30 years old and will probably get out if things don’t change.

v I truly wish to be an owner, but the state of Illinois pays us no respect.

v Quest. 3b- If driver’s fee was eliminated person paying would get drivers but person not wanting to ante up would have trouble getting drivers.

v When are we going to stop turning a blind eye on the drug abuse used on the horse by some trainers and owners? Also, if testing comes back cloudy purse money should be re-distributed for that race.

v Test at county fairs.

v Until the purse structure is raised – horsemen can’t afford extra added expenses. Hawthorne needs more dates to be an effective meet.

v I would also consider a random 24 hr. delay similar to the Meadowlands.

v No horses should be “pre-raced”. Trainers banned in other states should not be allowed to race in Illinois. Current policy is a joke.

v Races should start at 6:30 post-time every day.

v Horsemen have enough bills without the purses going up. They don’t need more with pre-test. Enforce drug testing on positives uniformly.

v Saturday matinees should be held at Maywood – more people would attend and wager more money. The state should pay for all pre-testing. We race too much! Too many races- you can’t get more people interested in a year-round program. Sports with seasons generate excitement among patrons ands horsemen alike. Horsemen and fans need a break.

v Take a winter break. The Meadowlands take time off.; we should too. Too many NOW wins of 2-3 races 6,000 claiming races.

v Quest. #1 (Sat. Matinees) No one will come to the races. Quest #2 (Trailers) But not over 8. When are we going to stop trainers from drugging these horse. Lets make it fair for everyone, trainers, owners and horses should all be penalized for months.

v Quest. #5 (Pre-race Testing) We need to implement a policy to crack down on cheaters and do something about it!. If so then I would participate. Quest #6 (Two wk break) 1 one week at State fair time 1 week at Christmas.

v Quest. #5 (Pre race testing) I would be willing (when and if) someone was abusing the rules get punished – time-off, fine, horse suspended. This is ruining the Standardbred Industry. When we go to the OTB the patrons are talking about the drugging. Trainers who get caught repeatedly – should be banned from racing – not only in IL. but all states.

v Quest. # 5 (pre race testing) If it does any good, if nothing is done, why pay for it!

v No “byes” in stake races – race to get in. Positive test horses – pay for own test-positive test out 30 days. If you want to stop it that would do it!

v Quest #3 (Drivers Fees – Drivers don’t do bad (eliminate fees) Trainer don’t make nearly as much as drivers for way less money and way more hours. Quest # 5 (Pre-race testing) The tracks and state should pay for testing (horsemen have already been shorted over the years. Let them pay.) Quest #6 (Break) Last week in Dec. should be closed, Xmas and things, no one comes anyway.

v Break should occur late February early March after Thoroughbreds start racing again.

v Quest. #5 Pre race testing) Any cost would be money well spent. It is imperative that all performance enhancing medication be eliminated. Horses testing positive should be banned from racing for several months so that owners would also pay a price. Drivers should be suspended/fined for ….another horse as advantage.

v A two week break around the holidays is a good idea – let everyone go home to their family. Good drivers will leave if we mess with pay. The answer to our problems lie in slot machine concerns and more people to attend, not on honory races we have.

v Drivers should be paid according to purse structure for the races they drive.

v I think matinees should be in the spring when the fans can sit outside, enjoy the weather. I think we should race Hawthorne in the winter like the old days.

v I would rather spend dollars on marketing our product; as opposed to spending dollars on testing. The more new faces we can attract the more the sport can grow. We need to grow new markets!!!

v We have to do something to get the racing business on an even playing field. I would be in favor of paying whatever per race if it is effective in pre-race testing and helping the situation. As a very dedicated horse person, I am discouraged over the situation in Chicago Racing. I hear things when sitting at betting parlor the track from our customers, the bettors that do not speak to integrity. Talking to people away from the track to try to get people enthused about going to the races I hear a lot of the same; they do not feel that we have a very good handle on the “cheaters”. I feel we need to have race cards offered that have full fields. That being said I would not know how many races per night or how often we race. Last winter we had a lot of races going to the gate with 5 and 6 horses. That does not do us or the betting public any good. We need to have stricter penalties for those who do cheat. If you look at what Indiana is doing with violators it makes me want to race there. Here we seem to slap offenders on the hand and let them continue on. Seeing someone like Andy Robison back on the trainers list with all that he did a few months ago amazes me. How do we expect bettors to come to the races or to attract people to become owners in this business when we tolerate such behavior as his.

v Balmoral needs to write non-winner of pari-mutuel races. Eliminate the “fairs wins of 3500” conditions Maywood could start writing one full card of trotting races, or open the Quad City Downs for races.

v Polls are a good idea!!

v I feel 9 horses is too many on any county fair track. 1 or 2 trailers depending on how wide they start. I think races should start earlier and less time between so people watching will stay longer and not get bored between races. There should be no “byes” in stake races.

v Trailers at fairs. I believe there should not be less than 5 in a race, but no more than 8. It should depend on the size of the track.

v Thank you for the opportunity to compete in Illinois.

v On trailers at fairs should be no more than 2. At fairs that only score 4 wide we don’t need 4 horse races. I’ve started a lot of fairs and most times 2 trailers would not impose any danger.

v After 10 races we loose the betting public and makes for a late night for the horsemen, especially for downstate horsemen. I would also favor an earlier start.

v Design paddock so public has more and closer pre-race visual contact with the horses and drivers/trainers/owners. No breaks, I think the betting public take that time to search out other venues. Less racing, more entertainment between races. Research the Minnesota thoroughbred model (Canterbury Park) that schedules amateur boxing, live bands, weddings, weiner dog races and family events to draw a more diverse population and keep the hard core followers entertained. It works!