Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Inc.
Serving the finest people we know, the Thoroughbred Horsemen of Illinois
Letter from the President
Dear Owners and Trainers,
The ITHA (Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Inc.) Board of Directors, Executive Director Glen Berman, and ITHA President Mike B. Campbell wish to welcome all horsemen to Arlington Park for the 2011 racing season.
The ITHA represents all licensed owners and trainers, and lends support to backside personnel who race at Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course. Our office staff provides for and assists horsemen in numerous functions so they can perform their everyday duties more efficiently. ITHA staff is dedicated to horsemen’s needs and you can expect a friendly and courteous response to your needs.
For those who do not know our location we are located across from the stall office by gate 9. We invite all horsemen to use the ITHA services and if there are concerns that are not being properly addressed please call our offices or advise me personally.
Most of our membership is aware of the ITHA’s initiative to bring electronic gaming to Illinois racing. The ITHA and other stakeholders have actively lobbied Illinois government senior leadership and the General Assembly to even the playing field by passing legislation allowing slots at tracks. This May and early June could very well spell out the success or failure of the current racing model as we know it. As President of this Association I am asking this membership to continue its support during this critical phase of the General Assembly. The ITHA Board is passionately involved in passing Slots at Tracks legislation, which includes elimination of recapture.
On the national front horsemen should be aware of a House Bill introduced May 5th by Kentucky Representative Whitfield and New Mexico Senator Udall, which would amend the Interstate Horse Racing Act to disallow the use of Lasix. We strongly disagree with the overall characterization of our sport by the authors of the Interstate Horse Racing Improvement Act of 2011 and support the ITHA Board’s majority resolution, which mandates the continued use of therapeutic medication in accordance with Illinois State statute.
On these issues, and indeed on all issues, where horsemen could be negatively affected, the ITHA and its national representative the THA (Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), stands ready as both an advocate for racing opportunity and as an elected representative serving the collective needs of owners and trainers licensed and racing at Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course.
We again thank all horsemen for your commitment to Illinois racing and to all good luck and best wishes from the ITHA. We hope you take advantage of this phenomenal facility by enjoying a cup of coffee and reading this first edition of the ITHA Post-Times.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Campbell
Jinks Fires and Archarcharch Look to make History in Kentucky Derby
Jinks Fires, like any other trainer in horse racing, has seen his fair share of ups and downs, but since Archarcharch has entered his stable Fires has seen a lot of ups of recent. The 70-year-old trainer not only won his first Grade 1 in the Arkansas Derby after 50 years of training, but finally earned a shot in the Kentucky Derby and a shot at horse racing history. Fires is part of a family deep in racing royalty as 7 brothers have all had a hand in the racing business, and most importantly have left lasting impressions on the Chicago racing world. Brother Earlie is Arlington Park’s all-time leading jockey and a member of racing’s Hall of Fame. Pedro served over 36 years on the starting gate before retiring in 2010. Teddy makes the rounds on a daily basis on the backside shoeing horses at Arlington Park and Hawthorne.
Jinks can also be counted on during Arlington’s race meet to enter some of his top runners. “The Chicago horsemen have always been very supportive of the family and they have done a lot for us along the way. There are a lot of trainers out there like me, good horsemen who probably won’t get a big horse in their barn and maybe never will, but they can train. I hope I can represent them in some way on Derby day. This is one moment that I wish everyone could be a part of. Every morning I wake up and pinch myself just to check that I’m awake and this is really happening.” You can bet that the Fires family will be well represented with Jinks counting up to 40 members of the family that will be present. “I’ve got my children, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and many more coming in. It is definitely a family affair, but I wouldn’t do it any other way. When the Fires family does things, we try to make it a big affair and the Kentucky Derby wouldn’t be done any other way.” If Jinks crosses the wire first in the Run for the Roses you can expect it will be a packed winner’s circle.
Chris Polzin Welcomes Horsemen
Welcome back horsemen for the 2011 race meet at Arlington Park. We look forward to working with you and putting forward the best racing possible that Chicago can offer. We have many fun and exciting things to look ahead to during the summer including a stellar stakes program worth $4.3 million, our new program ‘Festival Free Pass’, and of course Arlington’s historic International Festival of Racing. Let’s work together and showcase our outstanding racing program.
Good luck and all the best,
Chris Polzin
Arlington Park Director of Racing
Trainer W. Tom Howard Excited for his First Meet at Arlington Park
Veteran trainer Tom Howard is looking forward to his first meet at Arlington Park. The trainer and his wife Kathy came to Chicago after spending previous summers at Louisiana Downs. “We are trying out a different circuit this year after we left Oaklawn. It’s always fun trying something new and this looked like a good spot to start at. We love it so far. The horses are doing well and we like having options for training in the morning, it’s nice and clean around the backside, and the people here have been real kind. They have treated us with respect, and that is nice to have when starting out somewhere new.” The conditioner has been to Arlington once before in 2001 as an assistant trainer, but is now relishing being back with his own string. “I’m excited about the meet getting started and learning what I can about racing in Chicago. The horsemen here have been helpful and real welcoming. Hopefully this is going to be a good summer and I hope for great things for everybody here.” Look for Tom and wife Kathy around the race track and give them a warm Chicago welcome.
Reminder of Services Provided by the ITHA for All Horsemen
• Responding to Horsemen’s Concerns
• Ice machines located throughout the backside
• Fax and Copy machine for Horsemen’s use
• Tongue ties in the paddock for race day use
• Conditions books for Arlington & Hawthorne meets, as well as other tracks
• Overnights
• Pedigree Reports and Bloodstock Research
• Start by Start Reports and Past Performances
• License and stall applications for other racing jurisdictions
• A copy of the Daily Racing Form on race days in the Horsemen’s Lounge
• Complimentary issues of Midwest Thoroughbred & Illinois Racing News magazines
• A copy of the Thoroughbred Times and Blood Horse Magazine
• Daily race charts, results
• Bill of Sale
• Notary Public at all times during office hours
• Access to the Horsemen’s Lounge, which is open from 6:00 a.m. until the last race on race days and 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on dark days. The lounge offers horsemen a television, showers, computers with internet service, vending machines, complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, and a horsemen’s library.
Congratulations and Good Luck Horsemen!!!!
Congratulations Hawthorne Spring 2011 Champions!!!
