NEWS
Houghton files lawsuit against Arlington Park
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007 3:58 PM
TERRY HOUGHTON
Jeff Coady/Coady Photography
by Frank Angst
Jockey Terry Houghton filed a lawsuit against Arlington Park on Friday, claiming that the suburban Chicago track has unfairly excluded him from riding there.
Houghton’s attorney, Art Engelland, filed the lawsuit on Friday in the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois. It alleges that as a licensed rider in the state, the track is violating his rights, in interfering with Houghton’s ability to carry out contractual agreements with horsemen, and is defaming his reputation. In the suit, Houghton also alleges slander, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Arlington Park spokesperson Dan Leary said the track was still gathering information on the lawsuit and typically does not comment on pending litigation.
Tampa Bay Downs excluded Houghton earlier this year after the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, which conducts investigations for racetracks, informed track officials that the rider was being investigated for possible links to race-fixing at Tampa and Great Lakes Downs. Eventually, ten riders would be excluded at various tracks, although some, including Houghton, have returned to riding. Houghton currently competes at Indiana Downs.
The lawsuit argues that as a licensed rider in Illinois, no track should be able to exclude Houghton from riding. Citing “substantive loss of his livelihood,” Houghton is seeking unspecified monetary damages and punitive damages.
Houghton also is pushing for the Illinois Racing Board to step in and presented his case at a May 3 hearing before its Administrative Hearings Division. At that hearing, TRPB investigators alleged evidence, including irregular betting patterns and cell phone records, link Houghton to a race-fixing scam. Based on information from that meeting, the Illinois Racing Board could take some action when it meets on June 14.
“Still, I don’t think any ruling by the commission will have much impact either way on our lawsuit,” Engelland said.
At the licensing hearing, Steve Sexton of Arlington Park owner Churchill Downs Inc., said allowing Houghton to ride could bring scandal on Arlington if Houghton were to be indicted while competing at the track.
The lawsuit could impact future exclusion cases in Illinois as it argues that the track is acting as the state when it bars a licensed rider. The suit argues that the state of Illinois approves racing officials and state stewards and they have the authority to revoke racing licenses, not the racetracks.
Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times
