Illinois Racing Board met Sept. 23.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
A regular meeting of the Illinois Racing Board was held at the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC), Chicago, Illinois and via WebEx Audio Conferencing starting at 10:00 a.m. The following Board members participated: Chairman Dan Beiser, Commissioners Leslie Breuer Jr, Beth Doria, Lydia Gray, Alan Henry, Charles MacKelvie, Benjamin Reyes, and Leslye Sandberg. Staff members Domenic DiCera (JRTC), John Gay (JRTC), Bob Denneen (JRTC), Michael Belmonte, and Donald Marquez also participated.
BOARD REQUEST
Chairman Beiser moved for approval of the following race dates and conditions for calendar year 2022. Commissioner Reyes seconded the motion.
FAIRMOUNT PARK, INC. - 61 live thoroughbred race programs with 7 races per day minimum.
• April 19 through June 11- Racing 2 days per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
• June 12 through September 24 - Racing 3 days per week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• Post times on Tuesdays at 1pm, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm with the exception of Saturday May 7 at 1 pm.
Section 20(e-3) of the Illinois Horse Racing Act states that the Board shall award a racetrack in Madison County, for calendar year 2020 and thereafter, racing dates and the organization licensee, Fairmount Park, shall run at least 700 thoroughbred races. However, pursuant to Section 20 (e-4.5) of the Act, the Board may decrease the number of racing days without affecting an organization licensee’s ability to conduct gaming if there is an agreement between an organization licensee and the breed association that is applicable to the involved live racing guarantee, or the horse population or purse levels are insufficient to provide the number of racing opportunities required in the Act.
The Board received an agreement dated August 20, 2021 between Fairmount Park and the Illinois HBPA for 61 days of live racing with a minimum of 7 races per day.
1) As of August 20, 2021, Fairmount reported that the purse account was overpaid $1,750,039.91; and
2) Per their August 20, 2021 agreement, Fairmount Park and the Illinois HBPA agree that 100 days of racing with seven races per day “is simply not feasible for 2022.”
HAWTHORNE RACE COURSE, INC. - 76 race programs and 365 total host programs from January 1 through December 31.
• April 2 through April 30, racing 2 days per week on Saturdays and Sundays.
• May 1 through June 25 racing 3 days per week on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and racing Thursday June 23.
• September 23 through December 31 racing 3 days per week on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Dark December 24 and 25.
• Post times of 3:10 pm.
SUBURBAN DOWNS, INC. - 75 race programs and 365 total host programs from January 1 through December 31.
• January 7 through January 30, racing 3 days per week on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• February 3 through March 20, racing 4 days per week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• July 1 through August 21, racing 3 days per week on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• Live racing on June 30, August 27 through August 29, September 1 through September 4, and September 8 through September 11.
• Post times of 7:10pm
After reviewing the applications for organization licensees and after hearing testimony from the organization licensee applicants and the respective horsemen’s organizations as it relates to host track status pursuant to Section 3.075 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act, the Board finds that conditions are present to allow a lesser schedule of live racing than five days per week and 9 races per day.
This motion includes the following conditions:
1) Conditions from the following paragraphs in the Board Order awarding thoroughbred and standardbred Racing Dates for calendar year 2021 shall be incorporated in the order awarding thoroughbred and standardbred Racing Dates for calendar year 2022: paragraphs 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.
2) Each Organization Licensee shall adhere to their published post times for each race, except when minor adjustments are necessary; provided, however, reasonable advance written notice of such change is sent to the Board’s Executive Director, Pari-mutuel Director, and the Stewards.
3) Prior to the issuance of an organization license, each Organization Licensee (including inter-track wagering licensees, when applicable) shall file an admission tax bond in the amount of $25,000, and a pari-mutuel tax bond in the amount of $200,000. However, if an organization licensee conducts gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license issued under the Illinois Gambling Act, the amount of the bond required under section 230 ILCS 5/21(e) shall be $500,000. Said bonds shall be filed with the Board not less than 20 calendar days prior to each applicant’s race meeting.
4) On January 1, 2022 and thereafter, all organization licensees and inter-track licensees shall begin to pay the statutorily required admissions taxes on all paid and unpaid admissions, unless specifically exempted pursuant to Section 25(a) of the Illinois Horse Racing Act.
5) Fairmount shall present the Board with unaudited and attested financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to the satisfaction of the Board’s Chief Financial Officer no later than November 1, 2021.
Melissa Helton testified on behalf of Fairmount Park. Tim Carey testified on behalf of Hawthorne Race Course and Suburban Downs. Michael Campbell, David McCaffrey, and Chris Block testified on behalf of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. Tony Somone and Marty Engle testified on behalf of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Sandberg moved to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2021 board meeting. Commissioner Breuer seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (7-0) by roll call vote.
ADJOURMENT
At 12:45 PM., Commissioner Reyes moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner MacKelvie seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/irb/sierra/AbouttheIRB/Meetings%20Minutes/Sept%202021%20minutes.pdf
Alerts Sign-up