The Illinois Senate approved Bill 744 late Tuesday afternoon by a vote of 30-27 with two other senators voting “present”. Part of that bill would bring slot machines to all Illinois racetracks

. The bill had passed through the Illinois House of Representatives on Monday afternoon by a vote of 65-50.

The bill will now move on to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn for his approval.

Balmoral Park President and Maywood Park Vice President John Johnston is optimistic that Bill 744 would be approved by Gov. Quinn.

“This Bill in its current form would give us the means to put Chicago racing not only on a level playing field with other states that already have slot machines at their racetracks but to move ahead of them because of the money that will be generated,” said Johnston. “I really believe that it would not take us very long to establish Balmoral and Maywood Park as the premier places to race in all of North America. With the ability to draw all the top drivers, trainers, owners and their horses to Balmoral and Maywood we can move to the top of the sport.”

(Balmoral Park)

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