The Illinois Senate on Oct. 30 passed legislation that would authorize a new Standardbred racetrack and casino in the Decatur area and remove the 35-mile veto ability of Hawthorne Race Course for a racetrack casino license available to various communities in Cook County.

The Standardbred Owners Association of New York (”SOANY”) and MGM Yonkers, Inc. (“MGM Yonkers”), owner and operator of Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway, today reaffirmed their shared commitment to the future of harness racing at one of the nation’s most historic tracks, Yonkers Raceway.

Michael Carter will take the reins as director of racing at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows pending customary regulatory approvals.

The prestigious French race for 4- and 5-year-olds, the Prix Marcel Laurent at Vincennes, was won easily Thursday afternoon (Nov. 6) by Liza Josselyn with Jean Michel Bazire in the sulky.

The first of six Thursday race cards this year at The Meadowlands featured four divisions of the first leg of the Exit 16W Pop Up Series for both trotters and pacers, and Herecomesdajudge and Dismas were two good-looking winners.

Brett Beckwith picked up his first win at the World Driving Championship in New Zealand on Friday when he guided Look To Da Stars to a 10-length romp in the fourth of the day’s five WDC races at Addington Raceway.