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  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • City Weekend sire of City Sweets 1st Mdn (May 23, 3rd IND). Owner, Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Robert Gorham & Mast Thoroughbreds LLC...
  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Indian Charlie sire of Nechez Dawn 1st Alw (May 23, 7th AP). Owner, Tresner, Coby and Matsas, Alex; Breeder, B. P. Walden Jr., Hargus Sexton & SandraSexton...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...
  • Jazil sire of Love Me Good 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd PID). Owner, Sheltowee Farm and Blazing Meadow Farm; Breeder, Sheltowee Farm...
  • Yankee Gentleman sire of Little Dale 1st Alw (May 23, 7th BEL). Owner, Vaccarezza, Priscilla, Amante, Anthony and Garrity, Christine; Breeder, Philip Birsh...
  • Include sire of Window Boy 1st Grover (Buddy) Delp Memorial S. (May 23, 8th DEL). Owner, Luis Arenas; Breeder, Shelby Lane Farm Inc. & IncludeSyndicate...
  • Hard Spun sire of Gleaning 1st Mdn (May 23, 4th PID). Owner, Robert T. Manfuso; Breeder, Nursery Place & Robert T. Manfuso...
  • Philanthropist sire of Rob the Cradle 1st Alw (May 23, 2nd WO). Owner, Andrews, Denny and Paradox Farms Inc.; Breeder, Gardiner Farms Limited...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Hard Spun sire of Ribbon Taffy 1st Mdn (May 23, 5th IND). Owner, Pucek, John Paul and Marcinek, Paige; Breeder, Matthew R. Herbener...
  • Bustin Stones sire of Bustinattheseams 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd BEL). Owner, Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Eaton & Thorne, Inc....
  • Mancini sire of Ride Around Sally 1st Alw (May 23, 6th IND). Owner, Joe Uliano; Breeder, Spade Stable...
  • Posse sire of Parody 1st Alw (May 23, 4th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Don Mattox & Pam Mattox...

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Casino impact fee uncertain after Blagojevich's arrest

Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:39 PM

GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH

Illinois.gov photo

by Neil Milbert

The December 9 arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on an assortment of political corruption charges adds uncertainty to the status of a riverboat casino impact fee to benefit the state’s horsemen and racetracks that was approved by Illinois legislators last month.

The bill, which is an extension of legislation passed and signed by the governor in 2005, calls for two Northern Illinois casinos in Joliet, one in Elgin, and one in Aurora to pay a surcharge of 3% of their adjusted gross revenue to the tracks and horsemen. Terms call for 60% of that amount to go to purses and the remaining 40% to be used by Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks for marketing and improvements.

Despite the accusations against Blagojevich—the most serious being his alleged attempt to auction the United States Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama—he remains in office, claiming he is innocent and saying he has no plans to resign.

“The governor has until January 23 to sign or veto the casino subsidy extension,” Illinois Racing Board Executive Director Marc Laino said. “If he doesn’t take any action, the bill will become law by default.”

If Blagojevich reconsiders and steps aside, his successor will be Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn. The lieutenant governor has made no comments concerning the bill.

Complicating the matter, the original 2005 impact fee legislation has been caught up in court and the horsemen and tracks have yet to receive any of the more than $80-million being held in escrow. After the casinos successfully challenged the legislation in court, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the decision by a 7-0 vote.

The casinos then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court is not expected to consider the case until summer of 2009.

Neil Milbert is an Illinois-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent

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