The developers of a new casino in Richton Park, Illinois are calling on the Illinois General Assembly to remove Hawthorne Race Course’s power to veto the planned racino.
Greenway Entertainment Group is in the process of building a racino, which includes a harness horse racing track and casino, in Richton Park. This location is in the southern suburbs of Chicago, approximately 25 miles south of Stickney’s Hawthorne.
In 2019, the gambling expansion bill approved only one out of seven south suburban townships to operate a racino, with Hawthorne having the power to veto any construction of a racino in other areas of the region.
Drew Daniels, head of the Greenway Entertainment Group, has experience in real estate development in Lake Bluff. The group is pushing for the Illinois General Assembly to pass a law that would limit Hawthorne’s veto power, which they believe is hindering revenue opportunities for the southern suburbs. The proposed legislation would establish a veto deadline of June 29, 2025, four years after the law allowing racinos was enacted.
In a letter published in a Chicago Tribune article, Daniels urged the Illinois Gaming Board and Illinois General Assembly to consider the revenue loss and ongoing delays permitted by the current Act. He also advocated for the adoption of an alternative approach that would allow for the timely start of this important revenue source.
The plan for a new Illinois horse racing venue
Greenway Group unveiled their proposal to build a racino in Richton Park at a recent Illinois Senate executive committee meeting.
One of the investors in the project is Dan Arnold, a former president of Arlington International Race Course and the current CEO of Endeavor Hotel Group.
Richton Park, a neighborhood within Rich Township, is home to around 13,000 residents and is situated near Governors State College. The township overall has a population of about 76,000. Village Manager Reagan Stockstell has mentioned that the town is exploring the idea of potentially hosting a racino.
Stockstell stated that Richton Park village supports the mixed-use racino development and is excited for its location in the area west of Interstate 57 along the Sauk Trail corridor. He also mentioned that the racino offers a valuable economic development opportunity in the south suburbs and should be allowed to move forward despite Hawthorne’s veto.
Horse racing in Illinois
As of 2021, the Arlington, Maywood, and Balmoral horse racing tracks in Illinois have all ceased operations. The Arlington track was acquired by the Chicago Bears in 2021, sparking speculation of a potential new NFL stadium being built on the site.
Established in 1891, Hawthorne Race Course holds the distinction of being the oldest pari-mutuel horse racing track in the state.
The Illinois Gaming Board approved Hawthorne’s plan to convert their facility into a racino in 2020. However, the project, which involves constructing a casino in Hawthorne’s grandstand, has been delayed. Hawthorne president Tim Carey initially blamed the delays on rising material costs and the effects of COVID-19. Currently, the track is struggling to secure the funding needed for the project.
Arnold remarked that nearly four years have gone by and no progress has been made on Hawthorne’s development plans.
Hawthorne received backlash for its plan to build a racino in Tinley Park with investor Rick Heidner. An investigation by the Tribune uncovered potential connections between Heidner and organized crime, leading to the termination of the project.
The horse racing industry in Illinois is facing challenges, particularly with the closure of Arlington. Thoroughbreds and standardbreds are now forced to share Hawthorne, which is not ideal. The shorter racing seasons and low purse levels are leading to financial struggles for many in the industry, prompting some to move their operations to other states. Introducing a racino at Hawthorne could help improve the situation by increasing the purse amounts.
What happens next?
In summary, this is certainly not a guaranteed outcome.
Some mayors are skeptical of the Richton Park racino proposal, while plans are in place for a new casino in East Hazel Crest to open in 2025. The Wind Creek Casino Southland will span 70,000 square feet and feature a 252-room hotel and 1,350 slot machines, according to the Wind Creek website.
Furthermore, East Hazel Crest is located eight miles away from Richton Park.
Jim Edgar, the former Governor, proposes that a racino in Richton Park has the potential to revitalize the horse racing industry in Illinois. He emphasizes that it is distinct from a traditional casino.
Edgar expressed disappointment that the casino bill did not come to fruition and believes it was a missed opportunity for Illinois racing.
