ITHA Delivers Signed Contract Offer to AP
On January 30, 2013, Arlington Park received its 3rd Contract offer
from the ITHA for the 2013 Meeting. This offer is initialed and signed
by ITHA and is subject to immediate acceptance by Arlington so as to
allow for a smooth start to the 2013 racing season.
The two substantive changes unanimously approved by the ITHA Board of
Directors from the contract signed by ITHA and Arlington in May 2012
are as follows: 1) Language change regarding payments to ITHA to satisfy
supposed concern over the propriety of language in the 2012 Contract. The
new language was reviewed with and deemed appropriate by the IRB Executive
Director prior to inclusion. No change was made to payment amounts to ITHA.
2) Splitting the cost of the Horsemen's bookkeeper, 50% from Arlington and 50%
from the purse account. Under this proposal Arlington and the purse account will each pay
$14,462 to HGCA for the 2013 Meeting. (Same 50/50 agreement ITHA has with Hawthorne)
ITHA has not received a formal rejection of any of the proposed 2013 Contract offers
tendered to Arlington, including the latest. Arlington has indicated that changes in economics
from 2012 to 2013 require changes to the 2013 Contract without specifically stating what
changes it proposes.
ITHA's Contract Committee of Chairman Rick Johnson, Glen Berman, Mike Campbell, Chris
Block, Steve Holland and John Haran has been in communication with Arlington and is in the
process of scheduling a meeting(s) at Arlington's request to discuss the 2013 Contract.
Should a 2013 Contract not be agreed to by the parties by April 3, 2013, the IRB will set up
a mediation pursuant to its directive in the 2013 Dates Order. IRB has offered and ITHA has
agreed to participate in such a mediation process as soon as necessary if an impasse occurs,
without waiting for the April 3rd deadline.
Hopefully, Arlington will recognize the reasonableness and good faith of the ITHA 2013
Contract proposal, which is essentially identical to the 2012 Contract, and sign it without delay.
Glen Berman, ITHA Executive Director/General Counsel
