Horsemen News & Updates

Arlington Park is fully committed to the preservation and enhancement of the Illinois Horse Racing Industry

• We have supported an I-Gaming license for the ITHA.
• Additional revenue generated from ADW providers and an I-Gaming license for the ITHA will provide revenues to flow to purses.
• The rental solution that was agreed to by the ITHA contract committee and by Arlington is intended to discourage non-racers from occupying the space set aside for horses that are helping to grow purse accounts. It’s set up to encourage larger fields and to generate more lucrative purses.
• Every piece of legislation that was written to take recapture out of the law had the full support of Arlington, and this was long before Mr. Campbell became president of the ITHA. The horsemen developed this idea when wagering on out-of-state races was authorized in 1995.

• How much of the ITHA’s operating expenditures are necessary?
• How much of the ITHA’s quarter million dollar payroll is necessary?

• Are all the people represented by the ITHA eligible for the health insurance plan? Or only a select few? What does this cost?
• The ITHA is spending nearly $300,000 on attorneys, consultants and accountants. What benefits have you received for this money?

The season starts soon,
but questions remain unanswered

April 11, 2013 - Fortunately, this weekend you can address some outstanding concerns that have surfaced lately due to the misinformation that’s being spread. The ITHA holds their scheduled meeting Saturday at Hawthorne Racecourse, and that will be a great opportunity to have your questions answered.

Arlington International understands the importance of transparency and accountability, but recently ITHA president Mr. Campbell hasn’t been completely candid about some key issues. Saturday he’ll have the chance to clarify some things like:

·         Why does he request more money for operational expenses when the ITHA already receives $1.7 million from Arlington and Hawthorne (the equivalent of $15,000 a day reduction in purses at Arlington and $5,000 a day reduction in purse at Hawthorne)?

·         Why is there no oversight in how these funds are spent. Is it because the ITHA is not regulated?

·         Why did Mr. Campbell oppose the stall agreement when his own contract committee agreed on a plan that would encourage horses that are stabled at Arlington to run at Arlington and increase racing opportunities and increase field size?

·         Why does Mr. Campbell continually look for opportunities to challenge his colleagues when the future of our industry rests on maintaining a unified front?

·         Mr. Campbell purports that Arlington tried to remove him as President. Are you afraid to say that a member of the ITHA who worked at Arlington was stopped from supporting another candidate? When your executive director and Board members notified Arlington of the situation that the actions were immediately stopped? Are you afraid to tell your members, and your Board, that you begged for Arlington’s help and financial assistance to be elected as President in your first election?

·         What personal objectives is Campbell trying to reach at the expense of the people he claims to represent?

·         Does he care more about self-promotion than industry solidarity?

 We look forward to his written response to your questions on Saturday.

-Arlington International Racecourse Management

 April 11, 2013:

Arlington International Racecourse questions why Mike Campbell is undermining his own contract committee

April 11, 2013—The ITHA contract committee collaborated with Arlington Park to settle a stall rental agreement, but, curiously, the organization’s own president, Mike Campbell challenged that agreement.

Weeks ago the ITHA contract committee and Arlington Park developed a very reasonable solution to ensure there would be no charge for stalls. The negotiating committee understood the problem we were trying to solve: preventing trainers from using the Track as a training track. Instead, we sought to encourage fuller fields of quality horses and more money wagered. The more money wagered, the higher the purses. We cannot determine why Mr. Campbell would do something to delay purse increases and block money from flowing through the industry.

You purport that Arlington tried to remove you as President. Are you afraid to say that a member of the ITHA who worked at Arlington was stopped from supporting another candidate? When your executive director and Board members notified Arlington of the situation that the actions were immediately stopped? Are you afraid to tell your members, and your Board, that you begged for Arlington’s help and financial assistance to be elected as President in your first election?

Why now this effort to divide us all?

-Arlington Park International Racecourse Management

April 10,2013

Mike Campbell's
Misleading Legislative Affairs Information

Mr. Campbell is spreading false rumors about Arlington's involvement in the I-Gaming
legislation when he himself was a part of early deliberations. In fact, Mr. Campbell knows perfectly well that the Tracks offered to support an I-Gaming license for the ITHA. Mike Campbell participated in President Cullerton's meetings regarding I-Gaming. Why spread misinformation?

The ITHA contract committee also worked with Arlington Park to develop a solution that
benefits the Illinois Horse Racing Industry by keeping horses that train at Arlington racing at Arlington. It's imperative we determine what's compelling ITHA president Mike Campbell to oppose these arrangements by spreading misinformation. Why spread
misinformation?

The agreed-upon policy stated that stalls would be free of charge for horses running
at Arlington Park. This will help keep stalls available for the horses that will be generating the purse and handle money that flows through the entire industry. Keeping that money available was of chief importance to the agreement.

Meanwhile, Mr. Campbell also proposed language in the ADW bill that takes even more money from the purse account, and is he now opposing passage of ADW legislation that
provides more purse money. Again, Mr. Campbell is trying to delay the flow of purse money into the industry. Why delay the possible passage of legislation?

Furthermore, Mr. Campbell made a confidential proposal to the Illinois Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Foundation to increase breeders' awards, but only under the
condition that the ITBOF surrender their rights to remain independent, having the ITHA represent them in regulatory and legislative matters and with racetracks. The ITBOF said "no way" to this proposal, but it still remains unknown why Mr. Campbell threatens them in the first place. Why? Are there ulterior motives at work?

Mr. Campbell was also wrong when he stated that Arlington International Racecourse persuaded lawmakers to write the recapture clause into law in 1995 when, in fact, it was
the horsemen's idea to install that clause.

We, as an industry, need to determine what's motivating Mr. Campbell. Why interfere with these measures that benefit the entire Illinois Horse Racing industry. Why stand in the way of progress?

We simply cannot determine why he would want to mislead his constituents time and time again.

Management of Arlington International Racecourse 

Tell the Truth, Mike!

Campbell must answer questions following his misleading attacks and falsehoods

Arlington Park is calling on Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President Mike Campbell to come clean and answer questions in response to his attempt to peddle false information that could result in significantly less money for owners, the State and all horsemen who hire the trainers and ultimately destroy the state’s horseracing industry.

Campbell’s baseless claims and manufactured issues are designed to escalate emotions among horsemen when Arlington Park and the ITHA are engaged in contract negotiations that threaten to delay the 2013 meet, scheduled to begin on May 3.

In addition, Campbell is attempting to distract his members from his attempts to deplete Arlington Park’s purse account (money that should remain available to owners through payment of purses) by demanding $1.3 million for purported administrative costs, which would reduce purse accounts by $15,000 a day.  Combined that with the money the ITHA receives from Hawthorne’s purse account, that figure is over $1,700,000.  Reduced purses means shorter fields, less handle, less purse money for you and less money for the State. Furthermore, transparency has been lacking and Campbell has yet to provide an accounting of the unprecedented sums he demanded from the purse account for the ITHA’s purported administrative expense in 2012.

Tell the truth, Mike. Why are you using excessive amounts of purse money for ITHA administrative purposes instead of overnight purses for horsemen?

Campbell’s primary scare tactic has been to falsely claim that Arlington Park wants to impose an across-the-board stall rent provision this year, which is purportedly holding up contract negotiations.  The truth is that Arlington Park and the ITHA settled this issue a month ago. It was never Arlington’s intention to charge across-the-board stall rent.  The issue arose only because stalls had been used during last year’s meet for training purposes, instead of racing.   Arlington and the ITHA Contract Committee agreed that Arlington will not charge stall rent in 2013, and both sides committed to working together on efforts to ensure fuller fields and larger purses during future racing meets.  This was confirmed in a letter from Arlington General Manager Tony Petrillo to the horsemen on February 27, 2013.   Arlington further clarified that it would follow the recommendations of your Contract Committee to impose a fee of $100 on any trainer who is stabled at Arlington and races at other tracks while the same races are offered at Arlington. 

Mike, tell the truth. Why are you claiming that stall
rent remains an issue?

Campbell insists on stoking fears among people he claims to represent in an effort to distract from the current dispute between the ITHA and Arlington as to why he insists on draining more from the purse account for administrative costs and his refusal, to date, to account for the use of nearly a half a million dollars in “distress payments” made last year.  Campbell’s demand to take  even more money from purses for ITHA administrative expense would mean that breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys continue to lose out.  All racing participants want to preserve overnight purses and racing opportunities. Stop spending purse money.  Stop taking money from the State that is needed to regulate our industry. Mike almost all this money could be recovered, reduce your expenses like every other company is doing in the current economic environment. You should eliminate expenses and adjust your budget accordingly. There are certain things that are nice to have but not necessary.

Tell the truth, Mike. Will you be transparent
in your financial dealings?

Ultimately, we must all work together and find solutions to create more racing opportunities, protect the industry’s purses and better compete with other states. Doing so will positively impact everyone– from the owners to the grooms – and the 35,000 Illinois agri-business jobs throughout the state.

Don’t be fooled! The fact is that we are down to a few issues that center on protecting the integrity of purses, preserving state revenue and ensuring accountability and transparency of how the ever-increasing sums demanded by Mike Campbell for administrative use is being spent.   These are goals Arlington Park is committed to working toward so Illinois horseracing can start on schedule – and thrive – in Illinois for years to come.

Tell the truth, Mike. Why are you attempting
to mislead your members?

Do you have a hidden agenda such as looking for greater things for yourself in the future? Why do you claim credit for the things you haven’t done or insist that matters are still in dispute when they were resolved long ago?  

Mike, the owners that you claim to represent are entitled to know the truth.

We look forward to making your transfer of your stable to Arlington International as easy as possible. We are providing you notice of the certifications and vaccination requirements for all horses entering the backstretch.

We also want to caution about mixing your horses on vans and shipments with horses that do not have the proper certifications and vaccination requirements. In the event that there is a mix of horses that have the proper vaccinations and those that do not, the entire shipment of will not be permitted on the backstretch. Moreover, we will document the horses on the shipment and no horse will be permitted to the grounds until all horses that were on the shipment have met the proper certifications and vaccination requirements.

No trailers will be admitted into the backstretch until after training and the following criteria is met:

1. All horses onboard must have a Coggins within the last 12 months.
2. A health certificate with rectal temperature, signed within the previous 5 days of arrival at Arlington Park.
3. Proof of receiving EHV-1 vaccine within the previous 45 days but no fewer than 14 days of their arrival at Arlington Park.

If you have any question please call Chris Polzin at (847) 809-0221 cell or (847) 385-7738 office.

Thank you, we look forward to a great 2013 race meet!

To all horsemen:

Some trainers and owners who plan to race at Arlington this summer have asked us if we would open our backstretch and training tracks earlier in order that they may save the shipping costs to an intermediate track with all or part of their stable before we open. We are delighted to have the opportunity to accommodate them and have made arrangements for Arlington to open its backstretch on Monday, April 8, 2013 to accommodate the horses that have the proper medical certificates.

The main track and training track will be open on April 10, 2013 with alternating hours until the population of horses requires an extension of operating hours. 

A friendly reminder. Stall applications are due on Friday, March 8, 2013 before the close of business at 5:00 p.m. All stall applications submitted by mail must be postmarked by March 8, 2013. Arlington will begin allocating stalls immediately for the 2013 race meet based upon the unaltered stall applications that are received by the deadline.

Any stall application that is altered will be rejected and returned to the sender.
If anyone is uncertain of the above or has a problem with the application, they should discuss their issues with Tony Petrillo to determine if their issue can be resolved.

CORRECTION and CLARIFICATION on stall application information posting.