IRB to examine racing

Illinois Racing Board Chairman Lorna Propes has called for hearings to examine the state of Illinois’ horseracing industry. The hearings will be held July 18, 19 and 24 at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

“The Illinois Racing Board is charged with overseeing the industry, maximizing state revenue and attending to the health of the horseracing industry in general,” Propes said. “The last few years have not been good ones for racing in Illinois, neither from the standpoint of the industry’s contribution to State revenue or the health of many of the businessmen and women, small and large, who rely on the racing industry for their livelihoods. I’ve asked Commissioner John Simon to sit as the hearing officer for these hearings and he’s accepted. I hope that through this process we can create an environment in which we can publicly explore the reasons for the present situation in Illinois racing and the viability of all reasonable solutions.”

National and local industry leaders, representing every facet of horseracing, will be scheduled to testify. The participants and schedule for their testimony will be announced within the next week. (IRB release)

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