HR0567

LRB095 12591 KXB 37849 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Phil Langley on his 
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induction into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On Sunday, July 1, 2007, in Goshen, N.Y., Phil 
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Langley will be honored for his achievements and contributions 
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in harness racing; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He began his career at Sportsman's Park, where his 
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father, Pete Langley, was one of the founding fathers of one of 
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the nation's foremost meetings, and he went on to become a 
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member of the hierarchy at Maywood Park and Balmoral Park; he 
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was elected president of the United States Trotting 
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Association, governing body of the standardbred sport, in 2003; 
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and he is serving his second term while continuing to work as 
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director of racing at Maywood and Balmoral; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Phil Langley is a graduate of Oak Park High School 
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and Dartmouth; following his graduation he went back to 
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Sportsman's to work as an assistant to racing secretary Stan 
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Bergstein; when his father died he replaced him at the  
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Sportsman's harness meeting in the late 1960s; he  stayed at 
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Sportsman's until 1997, when track President Charles Bidwill 
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III, whose family had controlling interest in the track, 
 


 






HR0567
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LRB095 12591 KXB 37849 r




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decided to discontinue harness racing and make Sportsman's into 
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a combination thoroughbred/automobile racing venue; Phil 
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Langley was part of the ownership groups and he transplanted 
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Sportsman's American-National classic harness races to 
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Balmoral; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Balmoral became one of North America's foremost 
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tracks; Phil Langley was instrumental in inaugurating the World 
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Trotting Derby at the DuQuoin State Fair and in introducing 
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Illinois off-track betting in 1987; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In recent years, Phil Langley has made his mark as 
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a standardbred owner; he currently is co-owner of two of the 
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best pacers on the Chicago circuit, Thisbigdogwilfight and 
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Third Day; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Phil Langley on his induction into the Harness 
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Racing Hall of Fame; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Phil Langley as a symbol of our respect.