Prairie State Wire

Illinois Racing Board met Sept. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

On Thursday September 19, 2024, a regular meeting of the Illinois Racing Board was held at 555 West Monroe, Chicago, Illinois starting at 10:30 a.m. The following Board members participated: Chairman Dan Beiser, Commissioners Eddie Arroyo, Leslie Breuer, Lydia Gray, Marc Laino, Benjamin Reyes, Patricia Saccone, and Michael Schmidt. Commissioner Murphy was absent. Staff members Domenic DiCera, Lindsay Evans, Bob Denneen, Michael Belmonte, and Donald Marquez also participated.

BOARD REQUESTS:

Commissioner Reyes moved that the Board go into closed session pursuant to Section 2(c), paragraphs (11) of the Open Meetings Act to discuss pending litigation. Commissioner Arroyo seconded the motion. The Board approved the motion unanimously by an 8-0 vote.

LICENSEE REQUESTS:

Commissioner Reyes moved for approval of a race official at Fairmount Park, Inc for calendar year 2024. Commissioner Gray seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.

Commissioner Laino moved for approval to amend the 2024 Dates order to reassign November 5th, 9th, and 12th race dates at Fairmount Park to October 17th, 24th, and 31st. Additionally Commissioner Laino moved to vacate November 16th. Commissioner Reyes seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.

Commissioner Reyes moved for approval to amend the 2024 Dates Order to shift live racing at Suburban Downs in the months of October, November, and December from Mondays to Fridays with the exception of Monday December 30th. Commissioner Schmidt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.

Commissioner Breuer moved, pursuant to Section 24 (a) of the Illinois Horse Racing Act and administrative rule 1407.24, that the board grant prior approval of change of corporate officers, directors, and holders of 5% or more ownership interest of Fairmount Park, Inc. Commissioner Saccone seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.

Chairman Beiser moved for approval of the following race dates and conditions for calendar year 2025. Commissioner Laino seconded the motion.

FAIRMOUNT PARK, INC.- 55 live thoroughbred race programs with 7 races per day minimum.

• April 22nd through October 28th- 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 3rd.

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 23, 2024 signed by Fairmount Park and the Illinois HBPA. They have agreed to 55 days of live racing with a minimum of 7 races per day.

After reviewing this letter and hearing testimony, the board agrees with the following factors and circumstances outlined in the agreement:

1) As of August 18, 2024, the purse account had a balance of $535,577.49; and 2) Fairmount Park and the Illinois HBPA agree that 100 days of racing “is simply not possible for 2025.”

HAWTHORNE RACE COURSE, INC. - 80 race programs and 365 total host programs from January 1st through December 31st.

• January 1st through March 19th – dark host time. No live racing.

• March 20th through July 31st, racing 2 days per week on Thursdays and Sundays. And racing Saturdays on May 3rd, May 17th, and June 7th, but not on Thursdays May 1st, May 15th, and June 5th.

• August 3rd through November 3rd, racing 3 days a week on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays

• Post Times on Thursdays and Sundays at 2:10 PM and on Mondays at 5:20 PM.

SUBURBAN DOWNS, INC. - 40 race programs and 365 total host programs from January 1 through December 31.

• January 4th through February 23rd, racing 2 nights per week on Saturdays and Sundays, with a post time of 7:10 PM.

• November 7th through December 28th, racing 3 nights per week on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Post times 7:10 PM.

After reviewing the application for organization license and after hearing testimony today from the organization licensee applicant and the respective horsemen’s organization 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 2024 shall be incorporated in the order awarding thoroughbred and standardbred Racing Dates for calendar year 2025: Specifically, paragraphs 39-54.

2) The 365 days of Standardbred host status awarded to Suburban Downs, Inc. is conditioned upon the applicant submitting financial documentation as required by Section 3.075 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act by September 30, 2024, demonstrating that lack of interstate Standardbred evening simulcasting will cause the applicant to incur significant financial losses.

The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Reyes moved to approve the minutes of the July 16, 2024 board meeting. Commissioner Schmidt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.

ADJOURMENT

At 4:05 PM, Commissioner Arroyo moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Gray seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (8-0) by roll call vote.

https://irb.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/irb/documents/minutes-sept24.pdf