ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The Illinois Racing Board voted unanimously Tuesday to award Arlington Park 2020 race dates.
The racecourse will get a total of 68 racing days from May through September. It is unclear what the track owner's plans are beyond the next racing season.
There was concern the board would prohibit racing next year, unless the owners of Arlington committed to racing after the year 2021 and apply for a casino license.
The owners object to the state's plan to pocket one-third of casino revenues and said the tax makes the plan a non-starter.
Arlington owner, Churchill Downs, already owns the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.
There was a very real chance we wouldn't be able to gamble and enjoy all that is Arlington Park next year due to a feud between the state and the owners on who gets a cut of what. I mean, for what it's worth, I'd be LIVID if someone came into my establishment and said "I'm taking 33% of your revenue." I'm not sure I can even type the words I would say to that person. Unless you work the mob, no way in HELL am I helping pay for a state who drove themselves into debt and now expect me, a successful business owner, to help bail them out now that gambling is legal in said state. I feel you, Mr. Downs. Keep fighting the good fight. Have these damn politicians find a new way to line their own pockets with IL residents' money. It's our right to spend it at the casino if we chose and when we lose it, it should go to the person who gave us the chance to gamble in the first place, no where else. 33%... That number needs to come way down before 2021 or this whole song and dance will be happening next off season too.