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  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Mancini sire of Ride Around Sally 1st Alw (May 23, 6th IND). Owner, Joe Uliano; Breeder, Spade Stable...
  • Smoke Glacken sire of Walker Bay 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CD). Owner, Hammersmith, Dennis L. and Paden Racing, Inc.; Breeder, Brian O'Rourke & Derry Meeting Farm...
  • First Samurai sire of Nakano 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CRC). Owner, Thoroughbred Futures Racing; Breeder, Hubert Vester...
  • Arch sire of Wiki 1st Alw (May 24, 2nd PID). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Stuart S. Janney, III LLC....
  • Wando sire of Deb's Girly Girl 1st Alw (May 24, 6th RD). Owner, Deborah F. Metz; Breeder, Deborah F. Metz...
  • Chapel Royal sire of Mr Rodriguez 1st Mdn (May 24, 2nd BEL). Owner, Imperio, Michael and Loftus, Elizabeth; Breeder, Jill Imperio & Daniella Corian...
  • Posse sire of Parody 1st Alw (May 23, 4th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Don Mattox & Pam Mattox...
  • Jazil sire of Love Me Good 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd PID). Owner, Sheltowee Farm and Blazing Meadow Farm; Breeder, Sheltowee Farm...
  • City Weekend sire of City Sweets 1st Mdn (May 23, 3rd IND). Owner, Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Robert Gorham & Mast Thoroughbreds LLC...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Benchmark sire of Planet Sunshine 1st Alw (May 24, 5th GG). Owner, Thomas A. Shapiro; Breeder, Thomas Shapiro...
  • Hard Spun sire of Ribbon Taffy 1st Mdn (May 23, 5th IND). Owner, Pucek, John Paul and Marcinek, Paige; Breeder, Matthew R. Herbener...
  • Philanthropist sire of Rob the Cradle 1st Alw (May 23, 2nd WO). Owner, Andrews, Denny and Paradox Farms Inc.; Breeder, Gardiner Farms Limited...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Hard Spun sire of Gleaning 1st Mdn (May 23, 4th PID). Owner, Robert T. Manfuso; Breeder, Nursery Place & Robert T. Manfuso...
  • 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...
  • Canadian Frontier sire of Golden Frontier 1st Alw (May 24, 3rd CD). Owner, George Fister; Breeder, Brereton C. Jones...
  • Latent Heat sire of Heated Troubles 1st Mdn (May 24, 5th RD). Owner, Ashleigh Stud; Breeder, Ashleigh Stud, Frank Ramos & JackieRamos...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Tribal Rule sire of Italian Rules 1st Alw (May 24, 7th BHP). Owner, Barber, Gary and Cecil; Breeder, Nick Cafarchia...
  • Flower Alley sire of Bouquet Booth 1st Alw (May 24, 7th CD). Owner, Right Time Racing LLC; Breeder, Brookdale & Dr. Ted Folkerth...
  • Holy Bull sire of Catalan 1st Alw (May 24, 8th BEL). Owner, Elizabeth Loftus; Breeder, B. P. Walden & Dr. S. Marcum...
  • 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...

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Illinois casinos file suits against horsemen, tracks

Posted: Monday, June 15, 2009 5:33 PM

by Neil Milbert

Four northern Illinois riverboat casinos have filed two lawsuits aimed at preventing Illinois horsemen and racetracks from obtaining nearly $80-million in impact fee surcharge money.

Last week the United States Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of the casinos of an Illinois Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of 2005 legislation, giving the horsemen and tracks 3% of the adjusted gross revenue of the casinos.

The money was being held in escrow, pending the outcome of the appeal. Of the nearly $80-million in escrow, 60% is earmarked for purses with the remaining 40% for the tracks to use to make improvements.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal, the two casinos in Joliet, one in Aurora, and one in Elgin collectively have filed a Will County Circuit Court lawsuit and a federal civil lawsuit.

The Circuit Court lawsuit is related to the controversy surrounding former Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached in January after being arrested by the FBI in December on an assortment of criminal charges involving shakedowns for campaign contributions.

The casinos allege that had the members of the Illinois Supreme Court been aware that representatives of Blagojevich had attempted to coerce track operators into making contributions in return for signing pro-racing legislation the outcome of the case would have been different. They are seeking a temporary restraining order to block distribution of the escrow money.

In the federal lawsuit against Blagojevich, the casinos are charging criminal conspiracy, alleging that track operators were bribing the former governor at his behest.

In November and December, wire taps of Blagojevich’s home phone, Blagojevich’s brother, Robert Blagojevich, and lobbyist Art Monk allegedly indicated the governor was awaiting $100,000 from Balmoral Park harness president John Johnston before signing a bill extending the impact fee surcharge for three years.

Although Johnston did not make the donation, Blagojevich signed the bill on December 15.

Illinois Racing Board executive director Marc Laino said on Monday that the board plans to go ahead with its plans to have horsemen and track operators make recommendations by June 23 on how the impact fee escrow money should be distributed—if the purse money should be paid retroactively or used for future races. The board staff then will review the recommendations and give its own, and the board will make a decision at its July 14 meeting.

Because of the two lawsuits, however, it is highly unlikely that the courts will allow the money to be dispersed.

Neil Milbert is an Illinois-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent

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