In an interesting decision in U.S. District Court in Chicago yesterday, a federal judge denied a motion for a preliminary injunction in which four Illinois riverboat casinos sought again to delay distribution of $89 million to Illinois tracks

, including $19.7 million to harness racing, as racing’s share of riverboat revenue under legislation passed in 2006 and 2008.

The judge said the court lacked jurisdiction over that issue. He left standing charges involving alleged misconduct of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and Illinois tracks that the riverboats claim affected them directly.

In denying the riverboats’ motion for preliminary injunction, the judge stayed a temporary restraining order issued previously until December 14 to give the boats to seek a stay from the court of appeals.

(Harness Tracks of America)