SR1269 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1269 LRB098 21654 GRL 60501 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On April 19, 2014, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association celebrated its 25th year representing the nearly 2,500 thoroughbred horse owners and trainers who work at Arlington International Racecourse and Hawthorne Race Course; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association support directly or indirectly, through their investments and work in Illinois horse racing, tens of thousands of additional jobs statewide, including backstretch workers, breeders, veterinarians, blacksmiths, and feed and hay suppliers - an investment with an estimated value of more than $250 million annually; and

WHEREAS, Through its benevolent arm, the Chicago Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has provided more than 150 scholarships to the college-bound children of backstretch workers - workers who are responsible for grooming, maintaining, and caring for the horses; the Chicago Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation supports athletic activities for the children of these workers, who, together with their families, reside on the backstretch; the Chicago Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation also provides financial assistance for healthcare and other expenses of backstretch workers; and

WHEREAS, Through its horse retirement program, "Galloping Out", the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association works to facilitate the adoption of retired thoroughbred race horses by families across Illinois and in other states; Galloping Out provides funding for the care, rehabilitation, and retraining of these horses; once adopted, these horses work with children with developmental disabilities or participate in trail riding, jumping, polo, or other recreational activities; in 2014, Galloping Out will re-home its 100th retired thoroughbred horse; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its 25-year tenure, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has advocated for policies that increase breeder awards and otherwise strengthen and grow our State's thoroughbred breeding program; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association advocates for a strict and consistently enforced drug-testing program that is imperative for preserving public confidence in horse racing while also protecting the welfare of the horses, jockeys, and other participants in the Illinois horse racing industry; in that regard, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association took a leading role in advocating for our State's adoption of a national uniform medication and drug testing policy that, once fully implemented, will position Illinois with other states in helping to make medication rules uniform across the country; and

WHEREAS, Even as the horse racing industry nationwide has contracted in recent years, and even as Illinois horse racing faces significant challenges in competing against horse racing in other states, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has devoted itself to advocating for policies that enhance Illinois horse racing and protect the best interests of Illinois horsemen, along with the tens of thousands of jobs that they support; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the month of August 2014 as ITHA Month in the State of Illinois in honor of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's 25th anniversary and for its charitable activities and advocacy on behalf of horsemen working at Arlington International Racecourse and Hawthorne Race Course; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the leadership of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.