The following announcement was posted Saturday on the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association website regarding the stalemate that has delayed the start of the racing season in Illinois.
We have failed to reach an agreement with the racetracks so the IHHA has agreed with the IRB's suggestion to enter into professional mediation with the racetracks.
That process is time consuming so today we are proposing a temporary contract while the process of mediation begins. The terms of the temporary contract are simple: the 2013 contract gets extended until mediation ends.
We have $5.5 million in our account so the five to eight weeks that the mediation process would take only dents the account. Then, we adjust purses and contracts accordingly.
If the tracks are truly interested in conducting live racing, they will accept this offer as it poses absolutely no risk and begins the season.