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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, This year, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's
3Association celebrates its 25th year representing the nearly
42,500 thoroughbred horse owners and trainers who work at
5Arlington International Racecourse and Hawthorne Race Course;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Thoroughbred
8Horsemen's Association support directly or indirectly, through
9their investments and work in Illinois horse racing, tens of
10thousands of additional jobs statewide, including backstretch
11workers, breeders, veterinarians, blacksmiths, and feed and
12hay suppliers - an investment with an estimated value of more
13than $250 million annually; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Through its benevolent arm, the Chicago
15Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, Illinois Thoroughbred
16Horsemen's Association has provided more than 150 scholarships
17to the college-bound children of backstretch workers - workers
18who are responsible for grooming, maintaining, and caring for
19the horses; the Chicago Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation
20supports athletic activities for the children of these workers,
21who, together with their families, reside on the backstretch;
22the Chicago Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation also provides
23financial assistance for healthcare and other expenses of

 

 

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1backstretch workers; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Through its horse retirement program, "Galloping
3Out", the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association works
4to facilitate the adoption of retired thoroughbred race horses
5by families across Illinois and in other states; Galloping Out
6provides funding for the care, rehabilitation, and retraining
7of these horses; once adopted, these horses work with children
8with developmental disabilities or participate in trail
9riding, jumping, polo, or other recreational activities; in
102014, Galloping Out will re-home its 100th retired thoroughbred
11horse; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Throughout its 25-year tenure, the Illinois
13Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has advocated for policies
14that increase breeder awards and otherwise strengthen and grow
15our State's thoroughbred breeding program; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
17advocates for a strict and consistently enforced drug-testing
18program that is imperative for preserving public confidence in
19horse racing while also protecting the welfare of the horses,
20jockeys, and other participants in the Illinois horse racing
21industry; in that regard, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's
22Association took a leading role in advocating for our State's
23adoption of a national uniform medication and drug testing

 

 

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1policy that, once fully implemented, will position Illinois
2with other states in helping to make medication rules uniform
3across the country; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Even as the horse racing industry nationwide has
5contracted in recent years, and even as Illinois horse racing
6faces significant challenges in competing against horse racing
7in other states, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's
8Association has devoted itself to advocating for policies that
9enhance Illinois horse racing and protect the best interests of
10Illinois horsemen, along with the tens of thousands of jobs
11that they support; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we recognize the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
15on the occasion of its 25th anniversary and congratulate the
16organization for its charitable activities and advocacy on
17behalf of horsemen working at Arlington International
18Racecourse and Hawthorne Race Course; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the leadership of the Illinois Thoroughbred
21Horsemen's Association.