Earlier this week, the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association reacted to the lack of action taken on a gaming expansion bill. The legislature's veto session ended Tuesday, November 29 with no movement on the initiative

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Dave McCaffrey, head of the IHHA, posted his organization's reaction, which appears below.

Unfortunately, it appears the special session in Springfield will end with no outcome to a gaming bill. No vote was taken Tuesday on the new gaming bill (primarily because several key Reps. weren't in attendance).

It's anybody's guess where this leaves us. Please remember that in addition to the entire racing industry (harness horsemen, t-bred horsemen, and all racetrack owners) the city of Chicago and five other Illinois cities desperately want a gaming bill to pass. In addition, Illinois is flat broke and has a very high unemployment rate. Somehow and in someway a bill to placate all of these participants and fix these issues will become law.

Remember, when it comes to Illinois politics, sometimes things happen when they're least expected.

Dave McCaffrey

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