Springfield, IL — The Illinois Racing Board at its May meeting approved eight pari-mutuel racing dates at two one-mile fair tracks and a revision in the void-claim rule.

The Illinois State Fair at Springfield was awarded five dates — Aug. 8, 9, 10, 14 and 15 — while the Du Quoin State Fair was approved for three date: Aug. 26, 27 and 28. As in previous years, Hawthorne Race Course has an agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to operate the pari-mutuel side of the two meets.

Regarding the void-claim rule, the IRB, at the request of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, approved an updated Standardbred rule that is in line with Association of Racing Commissioners International model rules and other jurisdictions.

The approved rule states that if a horse that starts in a race dies on the track or has to be euthanized, a claim is voided. In addition, if a potential owner submits a claim for a horse, the owner or prospective trainer has one hour after a race is made official to accept or void a claim if the horse is walked off the track or is taken by van off the track; suffered an exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage incident; or is observed by a veterinarian to be lame.