Crying poor
Monday, Nov 26, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* It’s not difficult to understand why the Daily Herald would slant towards the horse racing industry, since the Arlington track is in the paper’s prime coverage area. But, still, isn’t this a bit much?
After getting nothing but coal in their stockings for the past decade or so, officials at Hawthorne Race Course and Arlington Park are hoping to get the one gift they really want this holiday season.
Slots.
With Gov. Rod Blagojevich calling a special session of the Illinois legislature this week to discuss a gaming expansion bill — one that would include slots at the two local tracks — the odds are steep but they’re as good as they’ve ever been for the thoroughbred industry to get the added influx of money it believes it needs.
“Everything seems to be pointing in that direction,” said Jim Miller, assistant general manager at Hawthorne. “But too many times we’ve had high hopes before.”
Not mentioned in the article is that the tracks have received a state subsidy for years. There was a time when the tracks subsidized the state. Now, it’s the other way around.
Personally, I think horse racing is a fine thing. And as long as any gaming expansion plan includes super-strict, binding rules requiring the tracks to focus lots of that newfound cash on expanding and vastly improving their deteriorating core business, then I guess the idea wouldn’t be so bad. But the poor-mouthing really gets old.
* Meanwhile, in other gaming related news…
* Madigan proposes more casinos, new eyes
* A look at Madigan’s proposal
* Illinois casinos may check everyone’s IDs
* Ex-state lottery official still in the spotlight
- Levois - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 9:24 am:
Heh, signs of the times eh. My dad and I used to go to Sportsman’s Park. Then they decided to try their hand at auto racing only to close their racetrack because they lost money on the venture. A sign of a declining horse racing industry yes?
I also wonder why the state didn’t approve slot machines at racetracks years ago. It seems like a logical progression especially since horse racing does involve betting.
- Ghost - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 9:47 am:
We need to stop trying to fund our state on gambling! Slots, which are designed to be addictive with the way they hand out rewards, the lights and sounds etc, substantialy bring in money from those with fixed incomes or low income. We need to stop luring those with little disposable income with the dream of hitting it big. Illinois needs to work on building and attracting real buisness, not expanding the socially destructive gameing industry. Every community with gameing shows na increase in crime, bankruptcy etc. We might as well let race tracks add meth sales since we are only concerned with making money.
- Snidely Whiplash - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 9:51 am:
I’m hardly a prude, but gambling is long known to be nothing but a sucker-bet that destroys families and lives. Putting slots into race tracks pretty much makes them mini-casinos, and with the proliferation of offtrack betting parlors, it would just be too easy for people with gambling problems to throw away the family mortgage payment on a regular basis.
For God’s sake, the legislature should be working hard on creative ways to expand real business in this state. We’ve been leaking “real” jobs for years. Let’s worry about the average Illinoisian, rather than the fatcats in the racing industry who might not be able to add that 11th Bentley to the family garage this years. SHEESH!
- anon - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 10:10 am:
This is what happens when Daily Herald sports reporters suddenly try to cover a political issue.
- plutocrat03 - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 10:44 am:
This is a bit much.
If an industry is slowing because the consumer is no longer interested, will the government be required to ’save’ each and every one? And will it have to be with gambling?
The horse industry appears to have more subsidies and perks than any other industry. To ask for just one more perk is mind boggling.
If this is to be the attitude of the state, I propose that we start a department for saving business by introducing gambling everywhere.
Your bank having a liquidity crisis? Call Uncle Rod at 1-900-
How about that failing body shop or grocery in your neighborhood? Call Uncle Rod
Too much gambling apparently addles the mind, or is it not enough. I’m confused.
- anon - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 10:47 am:
Is this the new DH political reporter?
- tired of the giveaways - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 12:48 pm:
This is just another way for the political leaders to help their billionaire friend, Dick Duchossois. I thought the Arlington Heights town council voted to oppose slots at Arlington….whats he going to do…threaten to close down again? If they can’t make any money horseracing, then develop the property into something that can make money…I think they call that capitalism. Better yet…lets do a tag day for poor old Duchossois.
- cynically anonymous - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 12:57 pm:
I thought Churchill Downs owned Arlington Park these days. And the village would definitely prefer to leave things just as they are. But we all know that our illustrious governor doesn’t care what anyone else wants (unless it is the same thing he wants).
- Getting Grumpy - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 2:10 pm:
cynically anonymous:
Duchossois’s sold their ownership of Arlington Park to Churchill Downs, but….
Duchossois Industries owns a 25% minority stake in Churchill Downs. FYI
- tired of the giveaways - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 2:25 pm:
Churchill does own Arlington…but Duchossois owns Churchill. Watch carefully as Duchossois and Blago ram the slots down the throat of Arlington Heights.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 2:41 pm:
If slots are OK on boats, why not at race tracks? Heck, I’m for putting legal video poker in bars & restaurants. It beats letting the mob get the $$ for it. As for the mopes with the gambling problems, they’ll always find some action, doesn’t matter whether it’s legal or not.
- tired of the giveaways - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 2:46 pm:
Bottom line is this… a legally constituted home rule community has voted to oppose slots at Arlington Park and have stated they will refuse to issue the necessary permits to authorize those slots….that’s unless Duchossois convinces Blago to pre-empt home rule in the bill. Let’s all watch. My bet’s (no pun intended) with Blago and the Duch
- Slots-o-Fun - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 4:06 pm:
I am shocked! Shocked, to learn that there is gambling in this establishment! (Inspector Reneau in Casablanca)
Aside from the slots at the track issue; a little noticed provision buried deep within all the most recent versions of the gaming legislation that I have seen have included legalizing internet based gambling on horse racing, innocuously referring to it as Advance Deposit Wagering. I think the Bright One wrote an article not too long about this.
I am sure you will be shocked; shocked to learn, that Churchill Downs (read Duchisois) owns just such a company that processes these internet based betting transactions on horse racing called www.twinspires.com
The chief competitor to Twin Spires for internet based gambling on horse racing also has a former Illinois Governor on the Board of Directors, and a former head of the Racing Board as its lobbyist.
I know they tried to introduce this concept before for the lottery; but there seemed to be widespread opposition. Internet based gambling on horse racing is both legal and common in some other states, but it is hard to say if it will be accepted or embraced here. The previous AG indicated that it was unambiguous and expressly illegal under current Illinois law. If I am not mistaken I believe that Duchisois fought to keep it that way in the past too. Of course now that he owns a company that does this for themselves; I guess all bets are off (pun intended).
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 4:28 pm:
As for slots and home rule in Arlington Heights, the Daily Herald explored that a couple weeks ago
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=75425
- tired of the give aways - Monday, Nov 26, 07 @ 6:11 pm:
Sounds like Mayor Mulder is using the legislature as a shield on this slots issue. If the board had any B—- it would speak out to the likes of Bassi, Mathias, Murphy, Beaubien, Franks, and Krause. Call them Mulder and tell them to vote NO. But she never did want to rock the boat.
The Duch gives generously locally too. I think there are 6 other board members with equal votes to the mayor….where be you elected officials. You’re about to get your lunch handed to you on home rule.