On Monday, February 17, the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association issued a release stating that it wants the operators of Balmoral Park and Maywood Park to allow horsepeople to race for purses similar to 2013 levels.

The release has quoted IHHA President Dave McCaffrey as saying, “At the core of this dispute is who decides how to spend money that is clearly earmarked for purses, which essentially are paycheques for the people who make horse racing possible. Those people are grooms, trainers, drivers, veterinarians, blacksmiths, farmers and breeders. Our purse account currently has over $5 million and we want to start racing for that money.”

The Illinois harness racing industry is currently in the midst of an impasse with track operators which has delayed the beginning of the 2014 harness racing season in the state.

The contents of the IHHA release appear below.

Maywood/Balmoral holding over $5 million in purse account

Horsemen eager to get back to work, racing

For the second week in a row, live harness racing in Illinois has been cancelled because of a contract dispute between the owners of Maywood and Balmoral Park Racetracks and the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association (IHHA). The central conflict surrounds the question of what rights do the horsemen have in directing their own bank account known in racing as the purse account.

“At the core of this dispute is who decides how to spend money that is clearly earmarked for purses, which essentially are paycheques for the people who make horse racing possible,” said IHHA President Dave McCaffrey. “Those people are grooms, trainers, drivers, veterinarians, blacksmiths, farmers and breeders. Our purse account currently has over $5 million and we want to start racing for that money.”

The current impasse exists because the racetracks have proposed an immediate, substantial cut to purses so that purse money can be dribbled out over the next couple of years. The IHHA has countered saying that horsemen would rather race for similar money as in 2013 at least until the end of the next legislative session.

“It’s very difficult for horsemen to make a living at the current purse levels,” said IHHA board member Mike Knicley. “A decrease in purses now will only make it more difficult to stay employed in this industry.”

The IHHA believes that the very people who provide the horses to race, have a better understanding of the impact that purse levels have on the day-to-day operations. They say that the racetracks miss the point on the effect that an immediate purse cut will have on the quality of life for horsemen.

“It’s like cutting someone’s hourly rate from $12 to $9,” said McCaffrey. “People have to be able to make a living right now. Our money is being held hostage and those purses are paycheques for our families. The bottom line is that the $5 million is our money; we’re not asking for increases, just to use our money to add some stability.”

McCaffrey emphasized that other factors may play a role later in 2014. “Things can change very quickly in Springfield,” he said. “We don’t know what the legislature will do in the next year, but we do know that hardworking people in racing need to have control of their own money. The question is, do we allow the racetracks to chop purses now so they can race for a couple of more years by having their ‘labour force,’ the ones who put on the show, working for miserable wages, or do we race for 2013 purses now and try and maintain a decent existence?”

While the future for Illinois horse racing is uncertain, a gambling bill is gaining steam again in the Illinois Legislature. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has said in the past that once a pension bill is passed, he will be able to turn his attention to gambling expansion. Pension reform legislation was signed by the Governor in December 2013. Illinois horseman can only hope that the much needed relief that a signed gaming bill will bring does not come too late.