It's getting ugly in Illinois

[second_glance]

Arlington Park’s opening-meet card on May 4 was not drawn as scheduled Tuesday due to an ongoing contractual dispute between Arlington and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. Meanwhile, the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, in support of the ITHA, began withholding the Churchill Downs simulcast signal from Illinois tracks Tuesday, jeopardizing Arlington’s presentation of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

http://www.drf.com/news/arlington-op...pute-continues

[Vic in Chicago]

Arlington Park’s opening-meet card on May 4 was not drawn as scheduled Tuesday due to an ongoing contractual dispute between Arlington and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. Meanwhile, the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, in support of the ITHA, began withholding the Churchill Downs simulcast signal from Illinois tracks Tuesday, jeopardizing Arlington’s presentation of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

http://www.drf.com/news/arlington-op...pute-continues

Sounds like a great opening weekend at Arlington. Three-horse fields, 20% purse cuts, and no Churchill Downs wagering. Should be fun.

I guess it wasn't enough for AP/CDI to try to shut down Hawthorne's Spring meet. Now they're trying to slit their own throats.

Good for the Kentucky Horsemen standing up for their brothers in Illinois!

Forget Wall Street. Maybe it's time for "Occupy Arlington".

[gravano]

Arlington management just sucks. They've even threatened to not fund the equine retirement organization Galloping Out if the Horsemen don't sign away their rights. To fans they've downgraded all their offerings. They just don't seem to get it.

[EquineAnne]

Sounds like a great opening weekend at Arlington. Three-horse fields, 20% purse cuts, and no Churchill Downs wagering. Should be fun.

I guess it wasn't enough for AP/CDI to try to shut down Hawthorne's Spring meet. Now they're trying to slit their own throats.

Good for the Kentucky Horsemen standing up for their brothers in Illinois
Forget Wall Street. Maybe it's time for "Occupy Arlington".

So, for once I'm going and I won't be able to bet the Derby? LOL, that figures. I guess I'll have to bet from home on the Derby.

[Vic in Chicago]

So, for once I'm going and I won't be able to bet the Derby? LOL, that figures. I guess I'll have to bet from home on the Derby.

This is only Tuesday, and there's still a good chance this thing will get settled before the weekend.

Both sides have a lot to lose if it isn't.

[Whos the Cowboy]

So, for once I'm going and I won't be able to bet the Derby? LOL, that figures. I guess I'll have to bet from home on the Derby.

Open up an xpressbet account-they're offering new account bonuses for the Derby

[EquineAnne]

Open up an xpressbet account-they're offering new account bonuses for the Derby

I have a Twin Spires account.

[Epiphany]

I have a Twin Spires account.

Chances are it will crash on Saturday anyway.

CDI (Corrupt Devious Idiots)

[Vic in Chicago]

An update, as of this morning. (The two sides are still far apart.)

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2...rts/705029955/

[second_glance]

@DRFHegarty: AP draws nine-race opening-day card this morning; without h/men's contract and unofficial boycott, races draw 52 horses total.

[algobbi]

@DRFHegarty: AP draws nine-race opening-day card this morning; without h/men's contract and unofficial boycott, races draw 52 horses total.

Less than 6 horses per race.

http://equibase.com/premium/eqbHorse...C-AP-20120504D

[gravano]

It doesn't look like Arlington is willing to compromise in any way. In fact management still seems to take the position that it's doing everyone a favor by existing. It really looks terrible, and this is on the heels of the influx of all the casino money. Is there anything more poisonous to horse racing than casino money?

[flute2]

Less than 6 horses per race.

http://equibase.com/premium/eqbHorse...C-AP-20120504D

Haha, did you see the note in there?

"TO ALL TRAINERS: For those who raced at Arlington in the past and those that
are here for the first time, Arlington Park would like to say welcome. Not only
do we want to say welcome but we want to give $100 to each trainer for every
horse you have in a race that crosses the finish line on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday of our opening weekend as a welcoming present.
Thank you for being with us and we wish you a wonderful season of racing.

Thank you,

Arlington Park Management"

Do they need a mediator? I'm MORE than happy to volunteer, I'm really good with the compromising stuff...

[Jas]

Less than 6 horses per race.

http://equibase.com/premium/eqbHorse...C-AP-20120504D

We're in the 6th race. I can't say I'm completely unhappy with a smallish field.

[gravano]

We're in the 6th race. I can't say I'm completely unhappy with a smallish field.

Does it have enough to go off? And who's your horse? I'll cheer for him (or her).

[Vic in Chicago]

As bad as 52 entries is for Friday (Opening Day), it could get worse. Word is that some trainers/owners entered for Friday hoping there will be a settlement by then. No settlement...they scratch.

Also, early word on Saturday entries is even worse. Maybe as low as 36 total for the day (Derby Day).

[Jas]

Does it have enough to go off? And who's your horse? I'll cheer for him (or her).

The 3 horse Zahrah.

[equine]

Can anyone explain why the ITHA would not be willing to run for 30 days under the terms of the 2011 contract? IDK all the details but it would seem to me the horsemen are cutting their own throats in IL with the loss of signal revenue from Derby weekend.

Looking at this from the outside, I'm thinking something major must have occurred to precipitate such extreme changes in contract language from 2011 to 2012. Perhaps the issue of HAW's spring meet, or maybe even something a little more personal like supporting purses on ARL's signature Million Day?

By law, racetracks in other states are required to operate a live meet in order to get a casino gaming license. But I'm wondering if Arlington could prove there is no desire by horsemen to fill races at a live meet, would they be in a position to apply for a gaming license to operate a casino, or market ARL to a casino operator?

[flute2]

Can anyone explain why the ITHA would not be willing to run for 30 days under the terms of the 2011 contract? IDK all the details but it would seem to me the horsemen are cutting their own throats in IL with the loss of signal revenue from Derby weekend.

Looking at this from the outside, I'm thinking something major must have occurred to precipitate such extreme changes in contract language from 2011 to 2012. Perhaps the issue of HAW's spring meet, or maybe even something a little more personal like supporting purses on ARL's signature Million Day?

By law, racetracks in other states are required to operate a live meet in order to get a casino gaming license. But I'm wondering if Arlington could prove there is no desire by horsemen to fill races at a live meet, would they be in a position to apply for a gaming license to operate a casino, or market ARL to a casino operator?

I think they feel like they will lose bargaining power if they just run under the old contract for 30 days (and I think they're probably right, Derby/Opening weekend may be their best chance at throwing some weight around like this).

[Vic in Chicago]

Without getting into all the gory details, the "changes" Arlington is proposing to the contract are so drastic that they would seriously, and permanently, disadvantage the Horsemen economically, as well as render the Horsemen's organization largely powerless and superfluous. There is no way the Horsemen could approve such a new contract.

The Horsemen have submitted proposals and revisions, but thus far Arlington has proven unwilling to budge.

The reason that it makes no sense for the Horsemen to agree to a 30-day period of operating under last year's contract is that Derby weekend is the one weekend, at least until Million weekend, when they've got maximum leverage. If Arlington is allowed to operate on a "business as usual" basis this weekend, one of their most lucrative of the year, they will just hunker down and wait the Horsemen out. If the Horsemen are going to fight back against AP's totally outlandish proposed contract, this weekend is the weekend they have to do it.

I am not a horseman, owner, trainer, nor own any stock in Churchill Downs Inc. I am just a racing fan that hopes Chicago continues to have two successful tracks.

But Churchill Downs, Inc. is a corporate bully, as they have demonstrated time after time at their properties all across the country. If left to their own devices, they will screw anybody if it benefits their corporate bottom line. And like with all bullies, at some point someone has to stand up to them, or it never ends.

I support the Illinois horsemen in this battle (as do most Chicago racing fans I believe), and I'm pleased, but not surprised, that the Ky. Horsemen are standing with them. They've had to battle CDI for years over similar issues, and thus they chose to block the CD simulcast in Illinois, to support their fellow horsemen in Illinois.