from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — The Illinois horse racing industry is set to receive $141 million that had been collecting in an escrow account and has finally been released to the tracks.
According to a story on www.pantagraph.com, the money has been collecting in that account ever since a 2006 law was passed that diverted three percent of the earnings of the state’s four biggest casinos to the horse tracks.
The casino companies have been fighting the law in the courts, but were turned back late last week when U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan denied their latest request.
According to a report on the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association website, the IHHA and the tracks are meeting this morning to discuss how much to raise purses at this time.
The report added that significant purse increases could start with the next condition sheet.
To read the full story, click here.
- Purses to go up by 50 percent in Illinois (Thursday, August 11, 2011)
The Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association and Maywood/Balmoral have agreed to increase purses across the board by approximately 50 percent, effective immediately.