Jeff Davis steps down as President of the IHHA

On Tuesday, March 17, I shared with the IHHA Board at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting that I had made the decision to step down as President and resign from the Board, effective immediately.

Over the past couple of days, I have been truly appreciative of the messages, calls, and support from so many of you. Thank you to everyone who has reached out — it means more than you know.

This was not an easy decision. Harness racing has been a part of my life since I was a kid going to Quad City Downs, and it has been an honor to serve the horsemen of Illinois during one of the most challenging times our industry has ever faced.

We are at a critical moment for harness racing in Illinois. Between the uncertainty surrounding Hawthorne, ongoing legislative efforts, and the overall economic pressures on our industry, the path forward will require focus, discipline, and above all — unity.

Everyone involved must be rowing in the same direction. Without that alignment and shared commitment, we will continue to fall short — regardless of the opportunities in front of us.

At the same time, my personal and family responsibilities have increased significantly, and I am no longer able to give this role the time, travel, and in-state presence it demands during such an important period.

For those reasons, I believe it is in the best interest of the association to transition leadership at this time.

Casey Leonard will be a strong and capable leader for the industry, and I have confidence in his ability to move things forward.

I am proud of the work that has been done to fight for this industry — pushing for legislative solutions, including more than $2 million in bridge funding, supporting new opportunities like Decatur Downs, and continuing to advocate for the future of harness racing in Illinois by sharing our message with the media. We have raised awareness for this industry at a critical time.

I care deeply about this sport and the people in it, and I sincerely hope that our political leaders recognize the urgency of this moment and take action to help secure the future of horse racing in Illinois.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Jeff Davis