In an attempt to dramatize Arlington International Racecourse owner Dick Duchossois’ demand for pro-racing legislation at the fall General Assembly session, the Illinois Racing Board attached a “provisional” string to the 1995 dates package it put together Wednesday.
The provision is that the schedule is subject to acceptance at the board’s Dec. 13 meeting.
Duchossois had made a motion to continue the entire hearing “until more complete information is available” so the board “would have the advantage of better understanding the problems of Arlington and the industry and determine if these issues could be solved in the fall legislative session.”
In denying this motion, Board Chairman Gary Starkman was sympathetic. “There is no sensible reason why racing dates must be awarded in September,” said Starkman. “It is simply another anachronism of the outdated and, at times, counterproductive act under which we act.
“But Section 5/20 (e) flatly states we must allot to respective applicants racing dates for the succeding year during the last 15 days in September.
“However, if we follow our normal path of awarding dates, we will leave the impression that, in this board’s judgment, racing is functioning in a business-as-usual fashion. If we do that, we lose the opportunity to sound the clarion call for change-the opportunity to provide the General Assembly, at a critical juncture, with our collective expertise on how the Horse Racing Act should be amended.”
Among the main items on Duchossois’ wish list are legalization of full-card simulcasting and a riverboat casino license.
Since its introduction in 1991, riverboat gambling in Illinois has grown to more than 67 percent of the total amount wagered in the state, while horse racing’s market share is 14 percent and declining.
According to Duchossois, after the last riverboat authorized under current law opens in Elgin next month, the new competitor in close proximity will force Arlington out of business in 1995-unless legislative changes are made.
As evidence, he cited the closing of his Quad City Downs harness track last year because it couldn’t profitably compete with the casinos on the Mississippi River.
“If dates were set today, Arlington would not be able to accept racing dates for 1995,” Duchossois told the board. “No business can operate successfully under the rules, regulations and taxation currently imposed upon Arlington.”
Starkman’s motion for a “provisional” schedule-similar to this year’s-passed by a 5-3 vote. Richard Balog, Lorna Propes and Ralph Gonzalez were the dissenting board members.
“We are a country of laws,” argued Balog. “You don’t arbitrarily change the law because you don’t agree with it or because one racetrack operator does not want to abide by the law.
“The chairman has questioned that the legislature does not know what it’s doing. Our job is not to mandate to the legislators what they should do.”
The other Chicago-area tracks-Sportsman’s Park, Hawthorne Race Course, Maywood Park and Balmoral Park-signed waivers permitting the board to draft the “provisional” schedule and delay the signing of the formal dates order until December. But all were against Duchossois’ motion to postpone the entire process.
“To delay this hearing would be a terrible mistake,” said Hawthorne President Tom Carey. “Any track has to know as soon as possible what the dates are.”
Finish lines: Arlington failed in its attempt to open May 5 and instead will open May 12. If Arlington had been granted the May 5 request, Sportsman’s would have lost the programs highlighted by the Kentucky Oaks that day and the Kentucky Derby the following day.
