Illinois Racing dates 2015

[Unique Style]

And so the demise of Racing in IL continues

http://www.harnessillinois.com/

http://www2.illinois.gov/irb/Documents/2015%20Dates%20Awarded.pdf

[beans and weenies]

so very heartbreaking when back in the day ILL.  was "THE PLACE TO BE"   

[careless hal]

I feel bad for those Illinois horsemen who can't leave.  They are stuck with part time venues and fewer and fewer races not to mention falling purses.  As for me, as the cuts continue, my interest in harness racing in general keeps falling.  I've been retired 13 years and when I first retired I went to Balmoral every Tuesday and Thursday.  With occasional weekend vist maybe 105-115 times a year.  Then several years ago Wednesday was substituted for Tue. and Thurs.  That cut my attendance in half.  Next year, no Wed.  I'll try to get out on the weekends a bit more, but doubt I'll make it more than 2 times a month.  So, next year I'll be lucky to go maybe 18 times a year.  The following year there most likely won't be any racing so that will be that.

[pope of vegas]

 Its a shame what Track Management and the "politicians" have done.

[Unique Style]

I have been to the IL tracks 3x this year.
Arlington for the Derby.
2x for Maywood on $2.00 Friday night Summer Beer and BBQ.

2015 may be a single visit.
I don't even bet IL tracks online anymore.

[cashman]

I haven't been to a illinios harness track in like 3 years. Used to go at least 5-10 times a year. Did go to Hawthorne and Arlington last year for a couple of outings.

[Mags]

I'm still trying to be  optomistic that the politicians will wake up before any tracks closing and get a deal done somehow. I'm probably in a minority understandably but as I've been a regular saturday night attendee for 25 - 30 years I have no choice but to hope. I've gotten used to some bad horses and drivers over the years and would certainly love it if illinois saw whats happening in Ohio and followed their lead..Definitely looking forward to saturday the 11th and what may be the last American National night..politicians wake up

[pope of vegas]

THe politicians are awake...  With their hands out...

[NIATROSS]

Its a shame what Track Management and the "politicians" have done.

agreed.

from changing spk to a 7/8ths track to what we have now is a real shame

[careless hal]

Track management has been a bunch of bumbling fools.  However, I hold the State of Illinois responsible for the decline of racing.  Their policies have gutted the industry.  The Racing Board is a joke.  A bunch of political  buffoons who wouldn't know the  front end of a horse from the ass end.  I've seen Board members at the track and one thing you never see is any of them talk to any of the fans.  They are escorted around by track management who  try to explain that the horses aren't pulling chariots.   

[LVGaryD]

And your president hails from Illinois. Fine job, Obama.