Illinois Racing Board met Sept. 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
On Thursday September 21, 2023, a regular meeting of the Illinois Racing Board was held at 555 West Monroe, Chicago, Illinois starting at 10:00 a.m. The following Board members participated: Chairman Dan Beiser, Commissioners Eddie Arroyo, Leslie Breuer Jr, Beth Doria, Lydia Gray, Alyssa Murphy, Benjamin Reyes, Patricia Saccone, and Michael Schmidt. Staff members Domenic DiCera, Lindsay Evans, Bob Denneen, Michael Belmonte, Vitto Okoye, and Donald Marquez also participated.
BOARD REQUEST
Chairman Beiser moved for approval of the following race dates and conditions for calendar year 2024. Commissioner Reyes seconded the motion.
HAWTHORNE RACE COURSE, INC. - 78 race programs and 366 total host programs from January 1st through December 31st.
• January 1st through March 22nd – dark host time. No live racing.
• March 23rd through June 1st, racing 2 days per week on Saturdays and Sundays.
• June 2nd through October 13th, racing 3 days a week on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• Post Times on Thursdays at 6:30 PM and on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:50PM.
• Dark July 4th.
FAIRMOUNT PARK, INC.- 62 live thoroughbred race programs with 7 races per day minimum.
• April 16th through November 16th- Racing 2 days per week on Tuesdays with a post time of 1 PM, Saturdays with a post time of 7:30 PM, and a post time of 1 PM on Saturday, May 4th.
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 “only if the Board determines that there is an agreement between an organization licensee and the breed association that is applicable to the involved live racing guarantee.”
The Board received a letter dated August 28, 2023 signed by Fairmount Park and the Illinois HBPA. They have agreed to 62 days of live racing with a minimum of 7 races per day. After reviewing this letter and hearing testimony today, I agree with the following factors and circumstances outlined in the agreement:
1) As of August 20, 2023, the purse account had a balance of $1,110,119.03; and 2) Fairmount Park and the Illinois HBPA agree that 100 days of racing “is simply not possible for 2024.”
SUBURBAN DOWNS, INC. - 46 race programs and 366 total host programs from January 1 through December 31.
• January 1st through February 12th, racing 2 nights per week on Sundays and Mondays, with a post time of 7:20 PM, and a post time of 2 PM on Sunday, February 11th.
• October 19th through December 30th, racing 3 nights per week on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Post times 7:20 PM.
After reviewing the applications for organization licensees and after hearing testimony today 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 2023 shall be incorporated in the order awarding thoroughbred and standardbred Racing Dates for calendar year 2024: paragraphs 38-51 and 54.
2) Fairmount Park shall ensure there are adequate starting gate personal on hand, for all race days, or as prescribed by the Board of Stewards, to manage issues as they arise.
The motion passed unanimously (9-0) by roll call vote.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Doria moved to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2023 board meeting. Commissioner Gray seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (9-0) by roll call vote.
ADJOURMENT
At 11:56 AM., Commissioner Reyes moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Breuer seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (9-0) by roll call vote.
https://irb.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/irb/documents/minutes-sept23.pdf
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