The future of horse racing in the state of Illinois was facing long odds even before Gov. Pat Quinn announced Monday that he would veto a bill allowing slot machines and other forms of casino gambling at race tracks.
In May, lawmakers passed the bill—which would allow for 14 new gaming venues, including five at the state’s race tracks—but were waiting to send it to Quinn for fear of a veto.
If Quinn doesn't relent on his stand, the entire horse-racing industry in his state could be put out to pasture.
It’s one thing to be steadfast in opposition to gambling; it’s another to say “no” to race tracks while coming up with a plan to allow for five new casinos, including Chicago’s first.
At a press conference in Chicago yesterday, Quinn said that he favored opening the Chicago casino, two in Chicago suburbs, one in Rockford, and one in Danville.
Danville? The same Danville that I once lived and worked in? Yes, that same one—birthplace of actors Dick Van Dyke and Gene Hackman, as well as musician Bobby Short. (Many Danvillians told me that after winning an Academy Award for his portrayal of Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in The French Connection, Hackman said the best thing about Danville was that he was so miserable there, it drove him to get out and seek a career in Hollywood. High praise, indeed.)
It makes no sense to put a casino in a backwater like Danville and not allow one at a horse-racing facility just east of downtown St. Louis. Fairmount Park in Collinsville needs the slots, so it can bring in more money. That money can then go to bigger purses in races. That would bring better horses and big-name jockeys and trainers. That would bring more fans. That would bring more cash to the state of Illinois.
The state is broke. It has more than a billion dollars in overdue bills. Yet it will trash this golden opportunity to raise revenue and save a historic industry if the governor has his way.
Quinn doesn't like the bill because he does not want Illinois to become “the Las Vegas of the Midwest.” Las Vegas might be a bit down on its luck right now, but it sure isn’t broke.
Tony Somone, executive director of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, told the Post-Dispatch that 13 states bolster race tracks with casino gambling on site. “We are at a disadvantage because we can't compete for those good horses and good jockeys," he said.
For Fairmount’s sake, let’s hope that Somone can help Quinn see the light. If not, Illinois race tracks will soon be dark.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
