Group Appealing For New Illinois Horse Racing Track Near Hawthorne

Developers of a new casino in Richton Park, Illinois, are urging the Illinois General Assembly to revoke Hawthorne Race Course’s authority to veto the proposed racino.

Greenway Entertainment Group plans to construct a new harness horse racing track and casino, collectively known as a racino, in Richton Park. This area is among the southern suburbs of Chicago. Richton Park is situated 25 miles directly south of Hawthorne, which is in Stickney.

The gambling expansion bill approved in 2019 allows only one out of seven south suburban townships to run a racino. Hawthorne has the authority to prevent a racino from being constructed in other parts of that area.

Drew Daniels, who leads the Greenway Entertainment Group of investors, has previously engaged in real estate development at Lake Bluff. The group is urging the Illinois General Assembly to pass a law stating that Hawthorne’s veto power is restricting revenue sources for the southern suburbs. The suggested legislation would impose a veto deadline of June 29, 2023, which is four years post the enactment of the law that permitted racinos.

A letter from Daniels to the Gaming Board published in a Chicago Tribune story urged the Illinois Gaming Board and Illinois General Assembly to take into account the revenue loss and incessant delays the present Act allows. It also encouraged the promotion of an alternative that would enable the commencement of this crucial and significant revenue.

The plan for a new Illinois horse racing venue

At an Illinois Senate executive committee meeting last Thursday, Greenway Group presented its plan to establish a racino in Richton Park.

Dan Arnold, a former president of Arlington International Race Course and current CEO of Endeavor Hotel Group, is one of the investors.

Richton Park, a part of Rich Township with approximately 13,000 residents, is located near Governors State College. The township as a whole has a population of around 76,000. According to Village Manager Reagan Stockstell, the town is considering the possibility of hosting a racino.

“Richton Park village is backing a mixed-use racino development and is looking forward to its establishment in the area west of Interstate 57 along the Sauk Trail corridor,” said Stockstell. “In terms of the bill to override Hawthorne’s veto, the racino represents a significant economic development chance in the south suburbs which should be given the green light to progress.”

Horse racing in Illinois

The Arlington, Maywood, and Balmoral horse racing tracks in Illinois are all closed now, with their respective closures taking place in 2021, 2015, and 2015. The Arlington site has been acquired by the Chicago Bears, who may potentially build a new NFL stadium there.

Hawthorne Race Course, which opened in 1891, is the oldest pari-mutuel horse racing track in the state.

In 2020, the Illinois Gaming Board gave the green light to Hawthorne’s proposal to transform their facility into a racino. However, the project, which includes building a casino in Hawthorne’s grandstand, has experienced delays. Initially, Hawthorne president Tim Carey attributed these delays to the increasing costs of materials and the impact of COVID-19. Currently, the track is facing difficulties in securing the necessary funding.

“Almost four years have passed and they’ve done nothing,” Arnold commented on Hawthorne’s development plans.

Hawthorne faced criticism for its proposal to construct a racino in Tinley Park alongside investor Rick Heidner. A Tribune probe revealed purported links between Heidner and organized crime, resulting in the cancellation of the project.

Horse racing in Illinois is currently struggling, especially after the closure of Arlington causing thoroughbreds and standardbreds (harness horses) to share Hawthorne, a situation that is far from optimal. This, combined with shorter racing seasons and the existing purse level, is causing financial difficulties for many in the horseracing industry, with some even relocating to other states to race their horses. Establishing a racino at Hawthorne would provide a much-needed boost to the purse.

What happens next?

In conclusion, this is far from a sure thing.

Certain mayors hold the belief that the Richton Park racino is not a good plan. Current plans indicate that a separate casino in East Hazel Crest is scheduled to open in 2024. The Wind Creek Casino Southland will occupy a space of 70,000 square feet and will include a hotel with 252 rooms and 1,350 slot machines, as stated on the Wind Creek website.

Additionally, East Hazel Crest is eight miles distant from Richton Park.

Former Governor Jim Edgar suggests that a Richton Park racino could potentially rejuvenate the horse racing industry in Illinois, emphasizing that it’s different from a full-fledged casino.

“Nothing happened with the casino bill that could have revived Illinois racing,” said Edgar. “We’re missing out on a fantastic opportunity.”