Illinois harness association asks for state intervention in favor of racino construction
The state passed legislation in 2019 to allow racino development in Cook County.
The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association has asked the state to remove Hawthorne Race Course’s ability to veto racino development projects, according to a local report in.
The organization currently has the authority to veto proposals to build harness tracks with casino within 35 of its business.
However, the state of Illinois gave the green light for racino construction five years ago. The current laws on the books allow for racino development in seven townships in Cook County.
Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association President Jeff Davis explained the group’s concern for the racino market, and claimed that Hawthorne has a monopoly in the local industry.
He explained to local news, “Our industry is being held hostage by Tim Carey’s family, who owns Hawthorne. We have to have a dedicated harness track.”
Yet Hawthorne has not opened a racino since the 2019 legislation went into effect.
The organization issued a statement, however, which states its intentions to build a harness track with a casino.
Hawthorne commented to local news, “We remain fully committed to developing a new harness track to complement racing at Hawthorne, as was intended in the legislation. We are the only Illinois business with the proven experience, integrity and wherewithal to do so.
“Our $400m redevelopment of Hawthorne is the most significant investment ever made into the Illinois racing industry and is the beginning of an exciting new future for the tens of thousands of jobs that we support across the state.”
Hawthorne officials went on to note that “they had never been approached about any legitimate, fully funded project seeking to develop a racino within 35 miles.”
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